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Odds on Chicago Bears Week 1 Starting Quarterback

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
4 minute read

Who will be the Chicago Bears’ Starting Quarterback in Week 1?

The Chicago Bears are one of the most storied franchises in the NFL, but they have had no luck with quarterbacks over the years. Only five Bears’ quarterbacks have been selected to the Pro Bowl, and Mitch Trubisky was the first Chicago quarterback to take part in the game since 1985 when he played in the 2018 Pro Bowl.

Even then, Trubisky was a second alternate and only earned the honor after Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers elected not to play in the Pro Bowl and Jared Goff couldn’t take part since the Los Angeles Rams were playing in the Super Bowl.

Chicago’s revolving door at the position is spinning once more, and it looks as if Nick Foles will enter the season as the starter according to the NFL betting odds. Foles is a -150 favorite at FanDuel to be the starter in Week 1.

Odds provided by FanDuel (IN, NJ & PA only)
Subject to Change - T&C's Apply, 21 + Only

Which Player will Start the Season Under Center for the Bears Odds at FanDuel

Nick Foles -150
Mitch Trubisky +117

On March 18, the Chicago Bears acquired Nick Foles from the Jacksonville Jaguars for a fourth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Foles is slated to make $50 million over the next three seasons after the Jaguars agreed to take a cap hit as part of the deal, and that showed the Bears are serious about improving the quarterback position.

Trubisky was selected with the No. 2 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, and the emergence of other quarterbacks taken after the North Carolina standout has ratcheted up the criticism of his play. Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson are two of the best quarterbacks in the league, adding to the frustration of Bears fans that have long sought a steady hand under center.

In 2018, Trubisky was solid for the Bears, leading the team to an 11-3 record as a starter. He completed two-thirds of his passes for over 3,200 yards with 24 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, and he showed that he was a threat to move the chains with his legs too. Trubisky ended the season with a 95.4 quarterback rating, and that led to Bears fans hoping that he had turned the corner.

Unfortunately, he regressed in his third season in the Windy City, failing to look as sharp as he did the previous season. He didn’t make a lot of mistakes, throwing just 10 interceptions in over 500 attempts, but he was very cautious and checked down way too often. Trubisky averaged just 6.1 YPA, and that inability to stretch the field stymied the offense.

Head coach Matt Nagy is familiar with Foles and what he brings to the table. Nagy is an Andy Reid protégé, and Foles was taken by Reid when he was the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2012 NFL Draft. Reid and Foles reunited when Foles signed a one-year deal with Kansas City in 2016, so it’s clear that Foles made a positive impression on Nagy too.

Foles has had a rollercoaster of a career during his eight seasons in the NFL. Chicago will be the fifth franchise he has played for since entering the league, and he has failed to stick with any team for longer than a year other than Philadelphia. He led the Eagles to an upset win over New England in Super Bowl LII though, and he was named Super Bowl MVP thanks in part to one of the most famous plays in NFL history, the Philly Special.

If Chicago can find the right fit under center, the Bears are a Super Bowl contender. They have one of the nastiest defenses in the league, and there are Pro Bowl players at every position. Khalil Mack is the second-best defensive player in the league behind Aaron Donald, and the front seven is as intimidating as any unit in the NFL.

Given the history between Foles and Nagy, the right bet is on Foles to win the starting job. You don’t make that kind of move unless you already have the switch in mind, so Nagy would need to see something different out of Trubisky during training camp to keep Foles on the bench.

Where to place a bet this NFL Season?

  • Use our exclusive BetMGM Bonus Code VIBONUS1500 to unlock BetMGM’s welcome offer for new sportsbook users!
  • Compare the latest NFL Odds from the best sportsbooks before placing a bet on this week's games.
  • Check out the North Carolina Sportsbooks just before they launch legal online sports betting.

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