Tennessee Titans at Chicago Bears Betting Lines - Point Spread Pick

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Tennessee failed yet again in a big matchup with Indianapolis as they lost 24-17 last Sunday. Chicago gave a decent account of themselves in a 22-16 loss to the Giants last weekend.
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The Titans’ offense failed to reach 30 points last week for the first time in a month. They have a better chance of hitting that score this week. QB Marcus Mariota has a 23-8 TD/INT ratio and has tossed 2+ TDs in 7-straight contests. The Bears failed to harass QB Eli Manning last week and face a better o-line in this matchup. Rookie OLB Leonard Floyd was carted off the field last week with a neck injury and is questionable this week. Leading tackler MLB Jerrell Freeman has been suspended for 4 games for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy. NT Eddie Goldman is also expected to miss this game. Mariota has 3 different players with 40+ catches this season and rookie WR Tajae Sharpe has chipped in with 34. TE Delanie Walker is 3rd in the NFL (among TEs) with 607 receiving yards and will be a focal point again this week. RB DeMarco Murray leads the AFC with 1,000 rushing yards and will get plenty of carries this week. Despite the injuries, Chicago allows 99 ypg and 3.7 ypc. They will probably find stopping the run more difficult with the loss of Freeman.
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The Bears are expected to give QB Matt Barkley his first career start this week in place of an injured QB Jay Cutler (shoulder). Barkley has limited arm strength and will be without WR Alshon Jeffery (suspended). TE Zach Miller, the team leader in catches (47) and TD receptions (4), left last week’s game with a foot injury and is also questionable this week. WRs Cameron Meredith and Eddie Royal are expected to be the top targets in this game but they aren’t a dangerous duo. The Titans have racked up 30 sacks on the year as OLBs Brian Orakpo (9) and Derrick Morgan (8) really bring the heat from the outside. DT Jurell Casey gets a good push inside and will see a lot of backup guards on the inside. Rookie RB Jordan Howard has been Chicago’s best offensive weapon this season but has only topped 17 carries twice on the year despite a 5.2 ypc average. Tennessee allows 92 ypg on the ground and I expect them to crowd the line and force the untested Barkley to make plays with his subpar arm.
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Public Money Consensus<br />
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In this week’s matchup between the Titans and the Bears the public is definitively taking Tennessee to cover the 4.5 point spread with over 80% of the action. This is likely due to the fact that the starting QB for the Bears, Jay Cutler is unlikely to play and they may have to start Matt Barkley behind center. In contrast it appears the over is the public bet which is surprising with a possible QB change.
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