Be Wary of Backing Patriots as NFL Predictions Road Fave vs. Chicago

Sports gamblers should be wary of backing the New England Patriots as -3 point football betting predictions road favorites over the Chicago Bears this Sunday, Dec. 12th.

Most football handicappers, 73% of them, are in love with the idea of the New England Patriots going to Soldier Field and taking out the Chicago Bears. I’m not one of the 73%. Oh, don’t get me wrong, the Patriots are indeed one of the best teams in the NFL.

[Off topic: by the way, do you want to get a 55% bonus on your first deposit here at BetOnline? If so JOIN NOW.]

But Chicago is one of the best teams in the NFL as well and giving up 3 points to one of the best teams in the league on the road isn’t often a recipe for successful when it comes to NFL predictions betting.

New England Patriots (10-2) at Chicago Bears (9-3)

Where: Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

When: Dec. 12th, 2010 at 4:15 pm EST

TV: CBS

Radio: Sirius-XM 90 (NE) 125 (CHI)

NFL Betting Line

New England Patriots -3 -110 O 41 -110

Chicago Bears +3 -110 U 41 -110

The football betting trends favor neither team in this game.

• The Chicago Bears are 4 and 0 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
• The Chicago Bears are 6 and 1 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog.
• The New England Patriots are 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 games overall.
• The New England Patriots are 4 and 1 ATS in their last 5 games on the road.

Nobody can deny that New England has been exceptional in their last 4 games but I see a caveat for each one of their victories, that many football handicappers may not know about, that explains why the Pats have been so good both straight up and against the spread lately.

There’s just no way that I can make the Patriots one of my NFL predictions to cover the spread at -3 versus the Chicago Bears on the road given the caveats that I found. Yes, New England beat Pittsburgh 36 to 29 to start the winning streak but the Steelers gave the ball to RB Rashard Mendenhall only 11 times in that game and the Steelers’ pass defense is ranked 24th in the NFL. Yes, the Patriots beat the Indianapolis Colts 31 to 28 but Peyton Manning threw a pick on the Colts final drive and he was without WR Austin Collie and TE Dallas Clark. Yes, the Patriots beat the Detroit Lions 45 to 24 but the Patriots…well, they played the Lions in that game. Finally, comes the one that “seals the deal” so to speak, the Patriots 45 to 3 beat down of the New York Jets. Impressive? Yes, but the Jets were using a new starting safety, Brodney Pool, in replace of Jim Leonhard. The safety calls out the secondary plays for the Jets’ defensive schemes.

So, yes, the Patriots are a very good team but they’re not my NFL predictions bet against the spread in this game. New England’s D is still ranked 31st in the NFL in total yards and passing yards and have to travel to Chicago to play the Bears.

The Bears are a very good football team. Chicago ranks 3rd in the NFL on defense in yards allowed per game. The D is second in the NFL against the rush and 3rd in the NFL in points allowed, 16, on average per game. The Bears have also won 5 games in a row including beating the hot Philadelphia Eagles 31 to 26 as +3 point home dogs.

I believe that the Bears are getting absolutely no respect in this game. Chicago has been just as hot as New England in the past month and is riding a 5 game winning streak going into their contest versus the Patriots on Sunday.

I have to back the Bears in this game. They’re the pick to cover the spread in the sportsbook.

NFL Betting Pick: Chicago Bears +3 -110

Check out the more Week 13 NFL predictions in the sportsbook, click here!