49ers vs. Bears Week 1 Betting: Will the Trey Lance era start with a Windy City win?

Written by: Eddie Griffin

Last Update: Thu Sep 08, 2022, 12:15 pm ET

Read Time: 3 minutes

Seahawks vs. 49ers Week 2 Betting: Don’t Expect Much Offense at Levi’s Stadium cover

nfl

FINAL

San Francisco 49ers

Chicago Bears

See Picks & Statistics For The Game

It may not move the needle as much as the other matchups involving NFC West teams, but one of the more intriguing games on the NFL Week 1 schedule sees the San Francisco 49ers visit the Chicago Bears.

In the 2021 NFL Draft, five quarterbacks were selected in the first 15 picks. The 49ers selected Trey Lance third, while the Bears grabbed Justin Fields eight picks later.

Lance mostly spent his rookie year as Jimmy Garoppolo's backup, while Fields started ten games before having his season ended early by an ankle injury and COVID.

Lance is now the guy in San Francisco, taking the reins for a team expected to make a serious run at a Super Bowl title after falling just short of a trip to the title game last season.

Fields and the Bears don't have such lofty expectations, but he is expected to make major strides this season under new coach Matt Eberflus after being stifled by former coach Matt Nagy in his rookie campaign.

San Francisco 49ers vs. Chicago Bears Matchup Information and Betting Odds

Matchup Information

Matchup: San Francisco 49ers (0-0) vs. Chicago Bears (0-0)
Venue & Location: Soldier Field (Chicago, Illinois)
Date: Sunday, September 11, 2022
Game Time: 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time (12:00 p.m. local time)
49ers vs. Bears TV Info: FOX

49ers vs. Bears Odds

Game odds are via BetOnline. Odds from other online sports betting sites that we have reviewed may also appear in this article.

Spread

San Francisco 49ers -6.5 (-120)
Chicago Bears +6.5 (-102)

Over/Under

Over 40.5 (-110)
Under 40.5 (-110)

Moneyline

San Francisco 49ers -330
Chicago Bears +265

San Francisco 49ers vs. Chicago Bears Prediction and Best Bets

49ers vs. Bears Prediction: San Francisco 27, Chicago 23

49ers vs. Bears Best Bets: San Francisco/Chicago over 40 (Best Value: -112 at BetUS)

While the two talented young quarterbacks may garner a lot of the spotlight in this matchup, defense will be a key part of what both of these franchises do or don't do this season.

Last season, the 49ers ranked third in total yards allowed per game and tied for ninth in points allowed per game. The Bears ranked 22nd in scoring defense, but they were sixth in yards allowed per game.

All that said, with two mobile quarterbacks and rushing attacks that will be expected to produce, the defenses shouldn't completely dominate proceedings at Soldier Field on Sunday.

Fields had one of the most impressive performances of his rookie year against the 49ers in a 33-22 loss in Week 8, completing 19 of 27 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown (with one interception) and rushing for 103 yards and a touchdown on ten attempts.

Those kinds of performances could have happened more had Nagy been less conservative with such a dynamic talent, and we should see the benefits of Fields' offseason work and the coaching change in the opener.

But will it be enough to help the Bears upset the odds and take down one of the favorites for the NFC title? It won't be, but it won't be for a lack of trying.

I don't love the Bears enough to back them to win or even cover, but I feel more certain that they will do their part to help the over hit in this one.