Tampa Bay Bucs vs Chicago Bears NFL Week 7 Odds

Tampa Bay Bucs vs Chicago Bears Betting Preview

WagerTalk NFL handicapper Tony Finn offers his Tampa Bay Bucs vs Chicago Bears NFL Week 7 betting preview. At the time of posting, the Buccaneers are 12-point home favorites over the Bears, with the total sitting at 47 points.

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Tampa Bay Bucs vs Chicago Bears Predictions

Tampa Bay Buccaneers -12 vs Chicago Bears
Total: 47 Points
Chicago defeated Tampa Bay as a +3.5 home underdog last season.
The Bears’ last five games have all stayed under the total.

The Chicago Bears (3-3) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-1) are scheduled to meet on a sunny Raymond James Stadium field for a Week 7 contest in the late Sunday window. The 4:25pm ET east coast kickoff gives both teams added national coverage, with the NFC showdown a sea-to-shining-sea CBS broadcast. Most Vegas and Offshore sportsbooks that post overnight lines after Sunday’s games are officially opening Tampa Bay between 11.5 and 12.5-point home favorites. The look-ahead number for this matchup was reposted on Tuesday, Oct 12, and positioned the Bucs as 10-point chalk. At the time this Bears and Buccaneers preview went to press, the Bucs were 12.5-point favorites.

The Green Bay Packers defeated the Bears for the 20th time in 23 games on Sunday. The Packers “I own you” Aaron Rodgers is 22-5 in games he has started against the Bears. Tom Brady’s Bucs held off Jalen Hurts and the Eagles in a 28-22 victory on Sunday. The Buccaneers’ win, a three-point victory over Philadelphia, doesn’t represent how the Brady Bunch were head and shoulders better than the home-team Eagles.

The game between these two teams a year ago played at Soldier Field is remembered more for Brady forgetting what down it was than the Bears earning the upset 20-19 victory 20-19.

The only injury report that is longer than the Bears heading into Week 8 is the Buccaneers. Tampa’s secondary will be playing at less than 100 percent and without Richard Sherman. LB Lavonte David has been ruled out with Devin White and S Antoine Winfield Jr questionable heading into Friday’s practice. Edge rusher Shaquill Barrett and defensive tackle Vita Vea are playing hurt.

The Buccaneers defense ranks 16th in points allowed and ninth in yards allowed. Tampa has surrendered third downs at an alarming 43.8 percent ranking them in the bottom third of the NFL. Key veterans who are anchors on the defense; Jason Pierre-Paul and Ndamukong Suh have been limited in practice this week.

The Bucs have allowed an opposing quarterback to throw for 300-yards in three of their last six games.

Brady has targeted wideouts Antonio Brown and Mike Evans more than any Tampa receiver this season. Brown is essentially tied with Mike Evans in total receiving yards, and the dynamic wideout missed a game earlier in the season when he was placed on the Reserve/Covid list. Brown (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday’s game, as has tight end, Rob Gronkowski.

The Buccaneers’ loss to Chicago last year was a Thursday night prime time event at Soldier Field. Chicago sacked Brady three times, including two by Khalil Mack, who was lineup over then-rookie phenom Tristan Wirfs. The Bears’ defense is capable, but the matchup doesn’t support Brady running for his life with the injuries that the Bears are playing through.

Chicago’s defensive scheme doesn’t emphasize putting pressure in the quarterbacks’ faces, or up and in the middle of opposing teams’ offensive backfield. Defeating the Bucs on Sunday afternoon will require linebacker Khalil Mack to have a game similar to the one he had in last year’s contest at Soldier Field. It will require that he plays as well. Mack is listed as questionable with a foot injury. The All-Pro had not taken part in practice this week.

The Bears’ best and only chance of scoring an upset at Raymond James this weekend is hindered with Robert Quinn on the reserve/COVID-19 list, Mack (foot) a question mark as noted, and defensive lineman Akiem Hicks (groin) questionable to be active. Starting safety Tashaun Gipson (hip) has been ruled out and defensive lineman Bilal Nichols (knee) is a game-time decision.

Brady had lost to the Bears once in his career. That game, last year, is also one that Brady would like to square up after virtually fumbling for the victory over Chicago. In truth, Brady has dominated the Bears nearly every time he faced them as the starting quarterback for New England. Points win games, and even with the key injuries the Tampa team faced, the Bucs defense will do enough to allow Brady’s Bunch to outscore Hurts and his Chicago detachment. A money-line play on the Buccaneers requires laying the wood, -800, and the double-digit spread of 12.5 feels like too much. The combination of the Bucs’ injuries, squaring off against a capable but hindered Bears defense, and a Bears’ offense that has more rushing attempts than passing makes a play under the total of 47 the safest and logical investment in this NFC matchup.

Get all of this weekends game previews from the @WagerTalk team @TopFlightSI @MejiaDinero @davecokin @BuntsBratsBrews @BumpSports @thegoldsheet Ravens vs Bengals Week 7 Picks
Baltimore Ravens vs Cincinnati Bengals Week 7 Picks https://t.co/RPABhbodpb Tony Finn

— Tony Finn (@FinnatWagerTalk) October 22, 2021

Tampa Bay Bucs vs Chicago Bears Analysis from The GoldSheet

The formidable Buccaneers entertain the punch-less Bears, who’ve managed just to generate only 16.5 points per game and 246 yards per game in total offense, but are surprisingly level in the standings at 3-3 thanks to a stingy defense. Chicago has 19 sacks and has held opposing quarterbacks to 225 yards per game over its last five contests, collecting all of its wins since being roughed up by the Rams in the opener. Tampa Bay’s defense, which is great against the run, has allowed foes to complete 70% of their passes. However, the Bucs not likely to be looking ahead to division rival New Orleans, which is next on the schedule, considering the Bears beat the Bucs in Chicago last season when Brady and Tampa Bay were held to just 1 touchdown. Tom Terrific doesn’t forget!

Tampa Bay Bucs vs Chicago Bears Bengals Video Preview

The defending Super Bowl champs are 5-1 in the standings, but just 2-4 against the spread. Can Tom Brady and Co. line the wallets of their supporters this weekend? WagerTalk NFL handicappers Kelly Stewart, Teddy Covers and Steve Merril offer their Tampa Bay Bucs vs Chicago Bears predictions.

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