2018 Chicago Bears Season Win Totals Predictions and Expert Picks

2017 Record: 5-11

2018 Chicago Bears Las Vegas Season Win Total: 6.5*

2018 Chicago Bears Season Win Total Picks NFL Football: 'Under'

I have to begin with a full disclosure: I am a lifelong Chicago Bears fan.

Of course, my fandom in all sports has eroded over the past decade. Nowadays I am a diehard fan of whichever team I have money on. But you always know a little bit more about "your team" and, generally, you always have a little more of a "feel" for a team that you've been following for, say, decades.

So, when I say this, I say it with the full confidence and knowledge of someone that's been tracking the Chicago Bears since the mid-80s: this 2018 Bears roster might be the worst that I've seen in 20 years.

I know that right now there is a little "buzz" about the Bears. Outsiders are trying desperately to connect the dots between their general construction and that of the Eagles and Rams. Like those two teams, which exploded from also-ran status to become two of the best teams in the NFC, the Bears have a new, offensively-gifted coach, a young quarterback, and a solid defensive scheme.

But that's where the similarities stop.

Objectively speaking, what do the Bears really have? They have a below-average offensive line. Eric Kush is not an NFL-caliber starter, and Charles Leno and Bobby Massie are replacement level. Center Cody Whitehair has also really struggled since making the shift from guard to center. And if any injury issues crop up then this situation will become dire pretty quickly.

The Bears also have one of the worst sets of skill players in the NFL. New coach Matt Nagy may have some creative plays. But he doesn't have the type of talent that he was working with in Kansas City to execute the plan.

I am not at all behind Mitch Trubisky. Heading into the 2017 NFL Draft I was screaming to anyone that would listen that the Bears should pick DeShaun Watson. Not only did they pass on Watson for this loser, but they also traded draft picks to move up one spot to get Trubisky. To this point in his career Trubisky has shown me absolutely nothing. And right now his absolute ceiling looks like it could be a poor man's Joe Flacco.

But at least Trubisky won't be letting down his receiving corps because those guys stink, too. Allen Robinson missed all of last season with a knee injury, and his lone big year came in 2015. Kevin White is a bust. Taylor Gabriel is on his third team in five years, has never caught more than 36 passes in a season, and was Atlanta's fourth-best receiver last year. Trey Burton was Philadelphia's No. 3 tight end.

The lone bright spot on offense is in the backfield. Jordan Howard, who is more of a grinder than a game-breaker, has surpassed 1,100 rushing yards in each of his first two seasons. And Tarik Cohen has a skill set comparable to a Kareem Hunt or a Darren Sproles.

Defensively, the Bears sported a Top 10 unit last year. They were also one of only two teams in the Top 13 (Denver) to finish the season with a losing record.

The Bears have a stout front three, led by the criminally underrated Akiem Hicks. His 2017 Pro Bowl snub was egregious. The Bears also have a very solid defensive backfield. Prince Amukamara, Kyle Fuller and Marcus Cooper are legit as a cornerback trio, and Adrian Amos has grown into a quality safety. The Bears were No. 7 in pass defense last year, and their 18 passing touchdowns allowed was in the Top 5. However, they have to get better at forcing turnovers; Chicago's eight interceptions were third-fewest in football.

If Chicago has a weakness on the defensive side, it is lack of depth at linebacker. That's kind of a problem when you are a 3-4 team. And the Bears didn't do themselves any favors when they colossally screwed up negotiations with first-round pick Roquan Smith, the best college linebacker in the country that absolutely fell into Chicago's lap in April's draft.

The Trubisky and Smith debacles kind of sum it up for this franchise. The Bears are losers and are one of the worst organizations in professional sports. Chicago, despite being one of the charter members of the National Football League and being in one of the country's biggest markets, has been irrelevant for the past 25 years. They've only made the playoffs five times since 1992 and have finished in last place in the NFC North for four straight years.

Maybe Nagy was a great hire. He is their fourth different head coach in seven years, so maybe Chicago accidentally got it right. Maybe Trubisky can take some major strides and become a Pro Bowl quarterback. He's their sixth quarterback in the last three years and the 31^st Bears quarterback to make a start since 1992. You'd think the odds would eventually play out in Chicago's favor there. But the reality is that this team has minimal talent and minimal depth. They play in an incredibly difficult conference and in a division with three teams with better quarterback situations. It looks like another rebuilding season for perpetually rebuilding Chicago.

Robert Ferringo has been the top football handicapper in the country the past seven years, earning nearly $28,000 in total football profit. He has also posted seven of nine winning seasons (including back-to-back winning years) and produced 26 of 41 winning football months and an amazing 45 of 70 winning football months over the past decade. Robert has eight of 10 winning NFL preseasons and he is at nearly 60 percent winners over his last 900 totals picks. Also, Robert's proprietary KING College Football Betting System has posted three of five winning seasons. Robert is looking for a third straight winning football year and wants more profit this fall. SIGN UP HERE TODAY AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR 3-FOR-1 FOOTBALL SPECIALS!

We are offering new clients $60 in free college football picks for Robert's picks or any Advisory Board handicapper of your choosing. Get your free college football picks now!

Read more articles by Robert Ferringo