Rams vs Bears NFL Week 14 Odds & Expert Prediction

If you thought the Chicago Bears would be sitting atop the NFC North going into Week 14, with the Green Bay Packers in such disarray that they fired their head coach in the middle of the season for the first time in 65 years, and the Minnesota Vikings unable to move the ball consistently with Kirk Cousins at the helm, then you have a better crystal ball than I do. So now we see the Bears, winning five of their last six (although losing to the Giants in overtime their last time out), and preparing to host the 11-1 Los Angeles Rams in a possible postseason preview. Can the Bears pull off the big upset? Or will the Rams just pick up another win? Check out our NFL betting preview.

Rams vs Bears NFL Week 14 Odds & Expert Prediction

.@Mtrubisky10 expects to play Sunday night vs. Rams: https://t.co/wqAvVDd2bi #LARvsCHI pic.twitter.com/Et9BXWEsvM

— NFL (@NFL) December 5, 2018

When: Sunday, December 9, 2018, 8:20pm ET Where: Soldier Field, Chicago TV: NBC Radio: Westwood One Live Stream: NFL Live NFL Week 14 Odds: Los Angeles -3, O/U 52.5

Why should you bet on the Rams?

The Rams are riding high on the arm of Jared Goff, who has a 27:7 TD:INT ratio and has thrown for 3,754 yards in 12 games. Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods are his top targets, combining for almost 2,000 yards and eight scores. Tailback Todd Gurley II also has 46 catches to go along with 1,175 yards on the ground, as well as 15 rushing touchdowns. The Rams’ defense has slipped a bit since last year, but they still have decent numbers, permitting 24.8 points per game. Aaron Donald is having an MVP-caliber season with 16.5 sacks. Los Angeles has covered just twice in their last seven games against NFC competition and just twice in their last nine games overall. However, they have put up at least 30 points in 10 of their 12 games this year and are winning by an average margin of a touchdown in their last three games. They face a Bears team that has beaten eight teams — but only two teams with records above .500. I don’t see the Rams slipping here in prime time; they have too many skins on the wall to have a letdown against a Bears team that will either be starting a backup quarterback in Daniel or a rusty quarterback in Trubisky.

Why should you put your money on the Bears?

The biggest question for the Bears is the status of starting quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who went down with a right shoulder injury in the Bears’ win over Minnesota. Backup Chase Daniel guided Chicago to a win in that game and then another win over Detroit on Thanksgiving Day, but then the Bears’ defense fell apart in an overtime loss to the Giants. Bears’ coach Matt Nagy told reporters that he had a “strong” feeling that Trubisky would play, but Trubisky has yet to participate in a full practice, which would be a prerequisite to him starting. Trubisky has a nice 20:9 TD:INT ratio and has at least two scoring passes in five of his last seven games. Tarik Cohen has been terrific out of the backfield, combining with Allen Robinson for 1,232 receiving yards and eight scores. On defense, Khalil Mack has turned the pass rush into a fearsome machine, ringing up nine sacks. Chicago has covered in four of their last five against NFC opposition and in 15 of their last 21 games at Soldier Field — as well as in six of their last eight games against the Rams. While the Rams have piled up the wins, their defense appears to have eroded a bit as the team relies on a video-game speed offense to score. If you like the Bears, you see Chicago slowing down Jared Goff & Company to keep the game in reach.

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

I like the big strides the Bears have taken, and I see Khalil Mack putting Jared Goff on the ground several times this week. However, the Rams have too many options for the Bears to slow down all of them. I’m surprised the line has stayed at three given the question marks around Mitch Trubisky. I predict a final score of Rams 27, Bears 17.