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Chicago Bears at Cincinnati Bengals NFL Week 7 Odds & Betting

Written by Jimmy Boyd

bears bengals 102109 The 3-2 Chicago Bears take on the 4-2 Cincinnati Bengals this Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium in a Week 7 non-conference battle. Neither team had good luck last week. The Bengals’ four-game winning streak came to an end with a 28-17 loss to Houston. The Bears were unable to pull off the comeback in Atlanta and fell 21-14 to the Falcons on Sunday Night Football. I successfully picked against both of these teams last week. Houston was my NFL underdog shocker of the year, winning outright by 11 as a 5.5-point underdog on the road. The Bears and Bengals have not faced off since the 2005 season when Carson Palmer torched Chicago for three touchdown strikes and the Bengals won 24-3. The Bengals have won four straight in this matchup and own a 5-3 lead in the all-time series. NFL odds makers are expecting a nailbiter this week, listing the Cincinnati Bengals as a narrow 1.5-point favorite with the total set at 42.

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When Bears QB Jay Cutler has a passer rating of 100 or better, his teams are a perfect 13-0. A big day through the air from Cutler could be the key to a Bears win this week. Last week, Texans QB Matt Schaub torched the Bengals for 392 yards and four touchdowns and the result was a double digit win.

Last year, Chicago’s success stemmed from tailback Matt Forte and the running game, but he has not been able to get going yet this season. Forte is only averaging 3.4 yards per carry and has only scored one touchdown. The Bengals have been pretty solid against the run, ranking as the 11th-best run stuffing unit, but Chicago must at least pose a running threat so the Bengals can’t lock in on Cutler. Cutler has already had some nice success throwing the football, but he figures to be even more dangerous if teams have to start worrying about the Bears’ running game.

Defensively, I’m going to be watching defensive back Charles Tillman against a good Bengals receiving corps. Chicago is 15-5 when Tillman comes up with a pick and he will be stalking Carson Palmer Sunday. The Bears have proven to be a pretty good bounce back team for backers as they are 5-1 against the spread in their last six games following a straight up loss. If you like Chicago to bounce back with a win and cover this week, bet the Bears at +1.5 at Sportsbook.com.

Chad Ochocinco had been so good during the Bengals four-game winning streak. Then they lose and he has to start spouting off again. Ochocinco has used Twitter to call out the Bears Sunday and he better be ready to back up his words. But while the Bears have had trouble stopping elite receivers this season, the key to victory seems to lie in the running game. The Bengals are a stunning 24-1 when they run the football 25 times or more under Marvin Lewis. Former Bears running back Cedric Benson is having a great season averaging 4.2 yards per carry for 531 yards but he was held to just 44 yards on 2.8 yards per carry last week. Getting him going early could be a major key to Cincy’s success this Sunday and he should have some extra incentive against his former team. It is worth noting that the Bears are 0-5-1 against the spread in their last six games as a road underdog. If you expect this trend to continue, bet the Bengals at -1.5 at Sportsbook.com.

Jimmy Boyd’s NFL expert picks crushed the books to the tune of 4-1 last Sunday. Make sure you consult Jimmy before making a single move in Week 7.

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