The Chicago Bears (1-1) are traveling to Indianapolis to take on the winless Colts (0-2) in another Week 3 game, but this time at the Lucas Oil Stadium this Sunday. The Bears will aim to slump the turnover blight by climbing above .500, while the Colts will be desperate to lift their first win. Both teams are indeed under tremendous pressure, and while both of the above statements hold, this matchup is poised for a lot of action, which is necessary for the handicappers best insights and preservation of the early season dynamics.
Chicago Bears vs. Indianapolis Colts 9/22/24 Game Info |
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| When: | Sunday, September 22, 2024 at 1:00 PM ET |
| Where: | Lucas Oil Stadium |
| TV: | CBS |
| Stream: | NFL Game Pass |
Chicago Bears (1-1) vs. Indianapolis Colts (0-2)
The ground game for the Chicago Bears reasonably could have been improved, with D’Andre Swift ripping off an average of just 2 yards a carry. Be that as it may, his ability to make explosive plays is still visible and would be beneficial against the Colts, who have weaknesses in defending the run. In the passing game, DJ Moore has found himself to be a dependable target for their quarterback; however, executing for points still proves to be an issue. This trend was seen in their recent defeat to Houston, where there was very little offensive production.
Conversely, the Indianapolis Colts have performed better in rushing primarily due to Jonathan Taylor. Taylor averaged 5.4 rushing yards per attempt in the last game against Green Bay, demonstrating that he can carry the team on his back, even though the team lost the game. Alec Pierce’s receiving group has been encouraging with some of the strong yardage and touchdowns provided by Pierce against the Bears’ secondary’s weakness.
Caleb Williams QB vs. Anthony Richardson QB
Caleb Williams, a quarterback currently playing for the Bears, begins the season on shaky ground. It is glaringly evident that with less than 60% of passes completed and more sacks than touchdowns, Williams needs to get into his groove in a hurry. The ability to remain calm will help overcome the Colts from due pressure in which Williams will need quick and intelligent decisions. It is worrying for those who criticize Williams’s lack of touchdowns. In this case, he has the opportunity to beat the critics.
On the other hand, the Colts’ Anthony Richardson was more promising, as evidenced by his higher average yards per pass attempt, even if he was not very accurate and threw a couple of interceptions. His explosive playing style could either attract or spell disaster for the Colts, depending on his judgment on the day of the match. Richardson’s deep ball could tilt the odds in the Colts’ favor, if he can curtail the mistakes.
The battle will surely be exciting as both quarterbacks will be doing their best to control the game with the least amount of errors. Richardson’s ability to make big plays may prove to be more than what Williams’ less risky approach is capable of, thus setting up an excellent quarter back battle.
NFL Odds/Point Spread: Indianapolis Colts Spread -1 (-120), Total Odds: 46.5
The odds slightly favor the Colts, reflective of their home advantage and the explosive potential of their offense despite their record. The total over 46.5 points suggests that oddsmakers are expecting some offensive fireworks, possibly banking on both teams’ desperation to register a win leading to an open, high-scoring game.
Chicago Bears Betting Trends
The Bears have been decent against the spread, suggesting the bookies often underrate them. Their ability to cover in six of their last nine games makes them a sneaky good pick, especially with a +1 spread. The trend towards the UNDER in most of their recent games could indicate a defensive battle or offensive struggles, which bettors should consider when looking at the total points market.
Indianapolis Colts Betting Trends
The Colts’ recent form has been poor both straight up and against the spread, indicating a team struggling to meet expectations. However, their games have tended to go OVER the point total, influenced by their leaky defense and the occasional offensive explosion. This pattern might continue if their defense doesn’t tighten up.
Chicago Bears vs. Indianapolis Colts 9/22/24 Betting Picks
Through effective undertaking and evaluation of the recent betting trends, the Chicago Bears are ready to take on slightly the favored Colts. Recently, the Bears have managed to cover the spread in almost every game, and being able to defend well, there were chances that they would use the Colts’ lapses in attack. This one will be a closely fought affair, which presents value for the Bears +1 spread even more.
If you are in the top free NFL picks, especially for the postseason, definitely back the Bears to cover their spread but also consider the total points. Bets on the UNDER due to the patterns of both teams towards lower scores in recent matches. Jonathan Taylor’s rushing yards prop lines may also give some upside given how well he has played at the start of the season