Welcome back, football: The Tennessee Titans will visit the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field this Saturday in the first week of the preseason, giving fans an opportunity to see which players will stand out and make the final 53-man roster.
There is also a wagering edge that can be exploited when it comes to preseason football since some teams will play their starters more than others.
Let’s dive into the latest news, odds and best bets between the Titans and Bears.
Titans vs Bears Odds
NFL odds used for this Tennessee vs Chicago preview were found at Caesars Sportsbook and are current as of Tuesday, Aug. 7, at 5 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Bears (-170) • Titans (+145)
- Spread: Bears -3.5 (-105) • Titans +3.5 (-115)
- Total Points: Over 37.5 (-110) • Under 37.5 (-110)
- Implied Score: Bears 20.5, Titans 17
Titans vs Bears Prediction
Score Pick: Bears 21, Titans 13
Bears coach Matt Eberflus reportedly said the starters would play against the Titans, but how much they will play is not set in stone. This is his second season with the Bears, and he went undefeated (3-0) in the preseason last year.
With that said, it is safe to assume quarterback Justin Fields and the rest of the starters won’t play more than a series or two in this match.
There is no word yet from the Titans on if veteran QB Ryan Tannehill will play, so we will most likely get a mix of second-year QB Malik Willis and rookie Will Levis. The two young QBs will be competing for the backup role this season.
Tennessee’s biggest offseason acquisition was WR DeAndre Hopkins, but he missed the final two games of the 2022 season with an injury and the Titans will want to be careful with how much they play Hopkins in the preseason.
I give the edge to the Bears in this context because their starters will play and they have talent in their second and third units. Rookie RB Roschon Johnson is one of the key position players I will have my eye on for the Bears.
Backup Bears QB PJ Walker also had a few good games for the Panthers last season, and behind Walker is NFL journeyman Nathan Peterman, who has failed to impress in the league but should handle the Titans reserve defenders.
Titans vs Bears Best Bets & Props
Bears -3.5 (-105)
Caesars Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 Unit
I like the Bears to win and cover due to the experience they have at the quarterback position. Willis was less than impressive in his appearances last season, and we have yet to see what Levis will do on the field.
With Chicago’s starters playing, they can get out to an early lead and look to run the ball for the majority of the game. Chicago to win and cover the 3.5-point spread is my NFL bet of the day.
Under 37.5 Points (-110)
Caesars Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 Unit
Both of these teams were near the bottom of the league in 2022 in points scored per game. The Bears only averaged 19.2 points per game, while the Titans came in at 17.5, good for 28th in the league.
The Bears also ran the ball the second-most in the NFL last year, with 32.82 rushing attempts per game. This will lead to a slow-paced game with fewer chances of scoring for both teams.
Titans vs Bears Same Game Parlay
There are no Same Game Parlays available at the time of writing.
