While everyone else is focusing on this weekends spread and money line, lets examine a few other prop betting odds available to add to this games excitement.
These Prop Odds are available at Bodog.com
While the primary focus may be on
whether to lay the points with a white hot road favorite or grab the points
with a solid home dog, I would like to believe there is more than just the side
or total to make money in this game. Let’s
take a look at a few of the proposition bets that the offshores are offering
and listen closely, because opportunity is knocking.
A Field Goal made over 43 ½
yards +110
No Field Goal made over 43 ½
yards -130
When I think
of the Bears and the Packers, I think of defense, with all due respect to Aaron
and Jay. In the previous two games, both
kickers made field goals but not one was over 43 yards. Soldier Field will be a very chilly place
late Sunday afternoon and the football may feel more like a medicine ball to
the finely tuned feet of Mason Crosby and Robbie Gould. On a blustery day in the Windy City with
temperatures expected in the teens, I highly doubt either coach is going to
gamble on a long field goal only to suffer the consequences of giving the
opposition a shorter field if they miss.
The smart move will be to punt and make the offense start deep in their
own territory. I trust the coaches will be smart on
Sunday.
I will lay -130 and bet no field
goal will be made over 43 ½ yards.
Total quarterback sacks
Over 5 ½ (-105)
Under 5 ½ (-115)
Let’s make
no mistake about this prop, there is only one team who will be ringing up sacks
and it certainly isn’t the Chicago Bears. Green
Bay Packers have had 8 sacks in their two post season games. They sacked Cutler 3 times in Week 3 and 6
times in Week 17 in front of their home crowd.
They were tied for 2nd place in sacks this season with 47,
averaging almost 3 sacks per game.
Conversely or perhaps I should say interestingly, the Bears offensive
line might as well been waving a red cape this season as they allowed 56 sacks
to lead the league in that dubious distinction.
Jay Cutler has taken more shots than a bunch of fraternity brothers at
an open bar. There is no doubt Green Bay
will be in the Bears backfield. I figure
the Packers are good for at least 4 sacks which leads us to the Chicago
Bears. Julius Peppers may not be the
beast he once was but he’s still pretty good.
But the Bears were unable to register even one sack against Rodgers in
their first game and only 2 in their Week 17 loss. That being said, the Packers offensive line
has not exactly been stout as they have allowed 38 sacks this season ranking
them 11th in sacks allowed. I
say both quarterbacks taste the tundra early and often. Play
over 5 ½ sacks.
Which team will record more sacks in
the Packers/Bears game?
Green Bay – 1 ½ (-115)
Chicago + 1 ½ (-115)
If history
shows us anything, the Green Bay Packers should cover this number. The Packers sacked Cutler 3 times in the
first meeting while the Bears were unable to register even a sack against
Rodgers. In their last meeting, the Pack
swarmed Cutler and nailed him 6 times while Rodgers was wrapped up only
twice. Chicago has been unable to stop
the pass rush all season and Cutler has the bruises to prove it. Let’s
watch Jay hit the dirt once again and play Green Bay -1 ½ .
These Prop Odds are available at Bodog.com