Chicago Bears vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Predictions, Odds, Picks

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

6 minute read

Oct. 24, 2021

Joe Williams
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

The Chicago Bears (3-3) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-1) lock horns at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa for a Week 7 showdown in the NFC. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET and the game can be viewed on FOX.

Score Prediction

Buccaneers 31, Bears 13

Best Bets

Buccaneers -12.5

Under

Chicago Bears vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Predictions

The Bears hit the road for Tampa in a game we used to see back in the days of the NFC Central Division. Now, the teams play rather infrequently, and that’s a shame. Expect plenty of Chicago fans in the stands at the Ray Jay, although it’s not likely they’ll have very much to cheer about.

Chicago was topped by the Packers and Aaron Rodgers, an unofficial owner of the Bears, 24-14 in Week 6. The Bears have rookie QB Justin Fields under center, and he is learning on the job, and it’s been a slow go. It’s frustrating for WR Allen Robinson, who is 58th in receiving yards among wideouts, while checking in 39th in targets, 47th in receptions and 54th in routes. He can be capable of so much more, but the star receiver is just not being utilized, as the rookie Fields is struggling to make big plays downfield.

It also doesn’t help that the Bears are banged up in the backfield, losing star-in-the-making RB David Montgomery until at least Week 8 or 9, if not longer. And last week, RB Damien Williams landed on the COVID list, leaving sixth-round pick and rookie Khalil Herbert to handle the chores.

The Buccaneers have had a couple of extra days to rest and mend after a 28-22 win at Philadelphia last Thursday, and those extra days will serve them well at home.

Chicago Bears vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Betting Odds

More Odds | Futures Odds

Chicago Bears vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Betting Resources

• Matchup: NFC North vs. NFC South
• Date: Sunday, October 24, 2021
• Venue: Raymond James Stadium
• Location: Tampa, Florida
• TV-Time: CBS - 4:25 p.m. ET

• Weather Report
• Injury Report
• Super Bowl 56 Betting

Chicago Bears Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 3-3
• ATS: 3-3
• O/U: 1-5
• ATS - Home: 2-1
• ATS - Away: 1-2

The Bears have really struggled to put points in the board, going for 14, 20, 6, 24, 20 and 14 this season with Fields and QB Andy Dalton mixing in. The defense has been great since Week 2, clamping down on the opposition for an average of just 18.0 PPG in the previous five outings. But they’re getting tired near the end of games because the offense isn’t able to do much, putting added stress and strain on them.

Total bettors have really enjoyed the Bears at the window, as Chicago has hit the UNDER in five consecutive games. Why stop betting it now? The only OVER result was Week 1 on the road against the Los Angeles Rams, a 34-14 loss with a total of 46. That’s it.

Chicago has posted a dismal 1-5 ATS mark in the past six games as an underdog, while going 2-5 ATS in the past seven against teams with a winning record, and 6-13 ATS in the past 19 following a straight-up loss.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 5-1
• ATS: 2-4
• O/U: 4-2
• ATS - Home: 2-1
• ATS - Away: 0-3

The Buccaneers were leading 28-14 heading into the fourth quarter last Thursday against the Eagles in Philadelphia. For those laying the 6.5 or 7 points, condolences. Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni is a new- school coach who is driven by the analytics, and he went down two after a touchdown to pull to 28-20. And you know they made the two-point conversion, slicing the lead to 28-22, and handing the Bucs a non-cover.

Tampa Bay is 2-1 SU/0-3 ATS in three games away from home, but it has won all three games at home while going 2-1 ATS at home, including covers in each of the past two. QB Tom Brady and the Bucs have enjoyed the home cooking, too, rolling up 31, 48 and 45 at home, hitting the OVER in each of the three outings.

The Buccaneers also enter this game as a double-digit favorite, and they’re 2-0 ATS in the past two favored by 11 or more points.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have won 13 of their last 14 games. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Chicago Bears

• Record: 3-3
• Division Standing: 2nd - NFC North
• Points Scored: 98
• Points Allowed: 124
• PS/G: 16.3 (30th)
• PA/G: 20.7 (8th)

Inside the Stats - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Record: 5-1
• Division Standing: 1st - NFC South
• Points Scored: 195
• Points Allowed: 144
• PS/G: 32.5 (3rd)
• PA/G: 24 (17th)

Key Players to Watch

• CHI: Justin Fields - QB (53/99, 632 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT)
• CHI: Darnell Mooney - WR (25 catches, 306 yards, TD)
• TMB: Tom Brady - QB (183/267, 2,064 yards, 17 TD, 3 INT)
• TMB: Antonio Brown - WR (29 catches, 418 yards, 4 TD)

Chicago Bears vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Betting Conclusion

The Bears have struggled offensively, while doing an admirable job on defense. But Chicago’s defense will really be put to the test against Tampa’s high-octane offense. Brady is just showing so signs of slowing down, and they have a triumvirate of receivers capable of housing it any time they touch the football.

They’re No. 1 in the NFL in passing yards per game, and No. 1 in the NFL against the run. The Bears won’t be able to hang in a battle where the quarterback has to win the game. And Fields won’t find a lot of open spaces to run against the suffocating Bucs run defense. Nothing is going to work for Fields and Chicago, at least until later in the game when the result is all but decided.

Chicago Bears vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Betting Trends

• Tampa Bay has won 13 of its last 14 games.
• Chicago has failed to cover the spread in five of its last six games when playing as the underdog.
• Chicago has gone UNDER the point total in five straight games.
• The home team has won four straight meetings.

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.

VegasInsider Staff

More from VegasInsider Staff