NFL Betting – Chicago Bears at Los Angeles Rams 2019

It’s been a disappointing season for the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams, and one of them is likely to have whatever slim playoff hopes remain squashed with a loss on Sunday night. The problems for both teams can be traced back to erratic and sometimes horrible quarterback play with Mitchell Trubisky and Jared Goff both regressing after posting nice seasons in 2018. If not for Trubisky and the Bears woeful offense, Goff would probably be taking more heat than he has this season. As it is, both teams are in dire need of a victory when they square off in a crucial NFC tilt. The Rams opened as an 8-point favorite and the line has been wagered down to -6.5 at online sportsbooks.

Chicago Bears at Los Angeles Rams

Date and Time: Sunday, November 17, 2019, 8:20 p.m. ET

Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA

Opening NFL Odds: Los Angeles -8, O/U 42

Bears at Rams TV Coverage: NBC

Odds Analysis

It appears as though the rest of the league has caught up with Sean McVay and his Rams. They hit the board as an 8-point favorite and the line was chopped down to -6.5 by Thursday, an indication that some bettors have lost faith as well. The Rams are coming off a 17-12 loss to Pittsburgh where they were favored by 4-points on the closing line, though they have been a solid bet on the line with a 6-3 ATS record. The Bears ended a four-game slide beating Detroit 20-13 last week. It was just the fourth time they’d hit the 20-point mark in a game this season cashing the under in three straight and six of nine overall.

Chicago Bears

It’s easy to blame Trubisky and the offense for the Bears’ problems this season. But the defensive hasn’t been as strong either. The combination of both units slipping from what they accomplished last season has the team scrambling to stay alive in the playoff hunt. And with the conference top-heavy, there is little margin for error. The Bears did end a four-game slide last week, beating Detroit but there were still some anxious moments.

Playing against one of the worst defensive teams in the NFL, the Bears managed just 226 total yards. That was about 200 yards less than what the Lions had surrendered per game coming in. Trubisky did throw three touchdown passes, but otherwise totaled 173 yards completing 16 of 23. The ground game was limited to 81 yards on 24 carries for an average of 3.4 yards per carry. And leading rusher David Montgomery sustained an ankle injury and is questionable for Sunday night’s matchup, furthering the woes of an offense that scores only 18 points per game.

Knowing they have to play perfect football, the Bears defense has been pretty good. But that isn’t getting the job done. Backup Jeff Driskel threw for 269 yards and a touchdown, and the Lions got to the Bears 25-yard line late with a chance to tie the game before turning the ball over on downs. Akiem Hicks is out indefinitely and the Bears could be without linebacker Danny Trevathan further depleting the group.

Los Angeles Rams

The Rams had been on a roll with two straight victories, and coming off their bye they flat out stunk against the Steelers. Beating Atlanta and Cincinnati by a combined score of 61-20 was a sign the Rams were ready to make a statement in the second half of the season and return to the form that got them the NFC title last season, right? Wrong.

The offense failed to score a touchdown, converted just 1 of 14 third down chances, reached the red zone once, and turned the ball over four times against Pittsburgh. The Steelers have upped their play on defense over the last month, but this was ridiculous. Can we blame it all on Goff? No, but we will anyway.

Goff hasn’t completed more than 60 percent of his passes in any of his last five games and he has just five touchdown passes in that span. He was 22 of 41 for 243 yards against the Steelers, and he was responsible for three of the four turnovers with a pair of picks and a lost fumble. He was badly outplayed by Mason Rudolph, which isn’t a good sign.

Bet Bears at Rams at BookMaker.eu

We saw these teams play a defensive battle last season and it sure looks like more of the same is on the way. The Bears are a deeply flawed offensive team and I don’t see an abundance of points coming their way. The Rams have been slowed by lesser teams than what Chicago has, which has me leaning toward the under.

NFL Score Prediction: Los Angeles 21, Chicago 13

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- Phil Simon, Gambling911.com Special Contributor