NFL Sportsbook – Bears vs Panthers

If you’re ready to place your wagers for this weekend, head over to the NFL Sports book now to get into the action. One of the most exciting games on the Week 5 slate comes from Bank of America Stadium, where the Carolina Panthers host the Chicago Bears.

Chicago Bears (3-1 SU, 2-2 ATS) at Carolina Panthers (0-4 SU, 1-1 ATS)

Sunday, October 10: 1:00 Fox, Live from Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC

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Betting Odds:

Chicago: -2 ½
Carolina: +2 ½
Total Points: 35 ½

It hasn’t been easy sledding for either team this year, especially the 0-4 Panthers. Carolina has been forced to throw rookie quarterback Jimmy Clausen into the fire because of injuries, and this team has struggled, as their 11.5 points per game is the worst in the NFL.

Still, all of the blame can’t go on Clausen, especially when the running game hasn’t been quite what many expected. Most believed that the Panthers would be able to move the ball on the ground with both DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart coming off big 2009 campaigns.

Instead, Stewart has struggled, which has only put more pressure on Williams. He’s got just 266 yards through four games so far.

As for the Bears, they are 3-1, but before you wager on them in the NFL Sports Book, understand, they’ve got plenty of questions of their own. Mainly, what the heck do they make of Sunday night’s performance?

In that game, Chicago was embarrassed by New York, 17-3 in a game that was just as ugly as the final score would indicate.

Unbelievably, the Bears had just 110 yards of total offense, and quarterback Jay Cutler was sacked a handful of times, before getting knocked out of the game with a concussion.Despite the concussion, Cutler is expected to play this weekend in Carolina.

Yet for all the talk about Chicago, this writer isn’t buying them. Because of it, take the Panthers in your NFL Sports Book bets.

We all know that this Carolina offense isn’t a juggernaut, quite the opposite actually. But this defense has been tough, and is limiting opponents to just 220 passing yards, good for 16th in the NFL.

More importantly, they look good last weekend against NFC South favorite New Orleans. In that game, they allowed the Saints high-powered offense just 383 total yards, and only six second half points. if they can play like that this weekend against Chicago, they’ll steal the win.

Beyond that, is anyone ready to buy into Cutler and this Bears team yet? Yes, their defense is superb, maybe even elite, with the addition of former Panther Julius Peppers in the offseason.

But at the same time this offense is incredibly one dimensional, as they rank 31st in the league, rushing for just 68 yards per game. With teams loading the box and forcing Cutler to beat them, will he be able to? Or will he turn into the turnover prone, interception machine he became last year?

Cutler and the Bears may have the more overall talent, but the Panthers are playing better overall and get this one at home. It might be a surprise to some, but let Carolina fool you, they’re going to win this game.

Head over to the NFL Sports Book and bet on them now!

The Pick: Carolina +2 ½