Thursday Night Football Picks: Carolina Panthers vs Chicago Bears

by Mike Allen - 11/6/2023

We are officially in Week 10 and at the halfway mark of the NFL 2023 regular season. Many of us thought we had the landscape of the league figured out, but football reminded us why we love it so much.

There is a lot of parity in the NFL, as you know.

Some teams are just bad, though. The Arizona Cardinals are a bad team. However, are they the worst in the NFL? Both the Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers may have something to say about that. If not them, I am sure we can find some fans who, at this halfway point in the season, are ready for their team to tank.

That is something we need to look out for in the second half of the year. That starts with this week, because we have the (1-7) Carolina Panthers traveling to Chicago to play the (2-7) Bears on Thursday night.

If there were ever an NFL game where you needed some betting action to make it more interesting, this would be it. Let's check the odds and make a prediction.

Doc’s Sports offers NFL expert picks for every game on our NFL predictions page.

Panthers vs Bears Betting Odds

Point Spread

Carolina: +3.5 (-110)

Chicago: -3.5 (-110)

I heard about some sharp money coming in on the Carolina Panthers this past Sunday, and yes, they lost, but their defense played a great game. Rookie quarterback Bryce Young had the worst game of his young NFL career with three interceptions.

The word is still out on whether or not Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields will play this Thursday night. His replacement, Tyson Bagent, also threw three picks last week.

It will be difficult for these two young men to delete those turnovers from their memory on a short week, all the while going over the tape of said interceptions with their coaches.

I have the Bears rated slightly higher than the Panthers, and they will be at home. However, do we want to lay 3.5 points with a rookie quarterback?

I guess the only time that's an acceptable strategy is when the other team is also starting a rookie under center.

Moneyline

Chicago: -170

Carolina: +150

That ugly moneyline of (-170) is enough to put us back on the Bears (-3.5). I cannot get behind the Panthers on the road.

Point Total

Over 40: -110

Under 40: -110

The point total for this week’s Thursday night game between the Bears and the Panthers has too much variance to try and make a bet either way.

If these two quarterbacks keep slinging it, we could see another 4 or 5 INTs between them. If the coaches reel each guy in, they might try and dink and dunk their way to touchdowns. I don't think the latter is likely to produce that many field goals, much less touchdowns.

Neither team is going to make the playoffs. So, I hope they let their quarterbacks make some mistakes. That will surely make for a better game.

Panthers vs Bears Analysis

On offense, the Chicago Bears favor the run. That is especially true with Justin Fields on the sideline. They rank 6th in the NFL in yards per carry. They ran the ball effectively last week in their loss to a strong defense in the New Orleans Saints. QB Bagent racked up 70 on the ground himself.

The Panthers on defense are very good. Yes, they have given up a lot of points this year, but it's mostly from them wearing down over the course of the game and not winning the field position battle. The D ranks 6th in the NFL on third down. However, they are an abysmal 31st in the league at keeping teams out of the end zone inside the 20.

The Bears have the ability to give a lot of teams trouble when they have Fields. If I were him, I would watch film on Patrick Mahomes until I was thinking and playing almost identically. He may be back this way, and I think the line would jump to (-6.5) if he does.

Chicago is #1 in the NFL in opponent's yards per rush. That means it's all up to Young for the Panthers, and we already mentioned the short week and those three picks.

Panthers vs Bears Prediction

Chicago builds a lead with mostly field goals, and they keep their lead by holding off the Panthers, who haven't been able to throw the ball all year. They rank 32nd in the NFL with just 4.8 yards/pass.

Prediction: Bears (-3.5)

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Thursday Night Football Picks: Carolina Panthers vs Chicago Bears

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