**Bears at Packers**

--Most sports books are listing Chicago (10-4 straight up, 9-4-1 against the spread) as a seven-point favorite with a total of 31. The Packers are plus 220 on the money line.

--There's two weeks left in the worst season Green Bay (3-11 SU, 5-9 ATS) has endured since Brett Favre became the starting quarterback. The Packers might've hit rock bottom at Baltimore last week, when the Ravens stomped them by a 48-3 count as three-point favorites.

--Chicago is off a 16-3 win over Atlanta as a three-point home favorite. With a 6-3 lead at intermission, Lovie Smith called on Rex Grossman to make his first appearance of the regular season in place of rookie Kyle Orton, who had started all 14 of Chicago's games. Grossman threw a strike for a big gainer on his first pass, seemingly igniting the crowd and his teammates on the sidelines. He completed 9-of-16 passes for 93 yards, but his presence was felt more than the stats would suggest.

--With Grossman in command, there's a totally different feel to the Chicago offense. Defenses have to respect Muhsin Muhammed and his ability to go deep more and the threat of the passing game prevents opponents from keying so much on Thomas Jones.

--Grossman will make his seventh career start in this game. During Week 2 of last season, he led the Bears to an improbable 21-10 win at Green Bay as nine-point underdogs.

--Green Bay has lost four of its six home games both SU and ATS.

--Lovie Smith's squad is 3-3 SU on the road, 3-2-1 versus the number.

--These teams met at Soldier Field three weeks ago with Chicago collecting a 19-7 win as a seven-point 'chalk.'

--The 'under' owns an incredible 10-2-2 overall record for the Bears, posting a 3-1-1 mark in their road games.

--The 'under' is 9-5 for the Packers, 4-2 in their home outings. The 'under' has cashed at a 7-2 clip in their last nine games.

--The 'over' is 5-2 in the last seven head-to-head meetings between these long-time rivals.


**Vikings at Ravens**

--Most spots have installed Baltimore (5-9 SU, 6-8 ATS) as a three-point 'chalk' with the total marked at 34 1/2. Gamblers can have the Vikings on the money line for a plus-140 payoff.

--Minnesota (8-6 SU, 8-6 ATS) saw its six-game winning streak halted when it suffered an 18-3 home loss to Pittsburgh as a five-point home underdog.

--Mike Tice's team is 3-4 both SU and ATS on the road.

--The Ravens dealt out a 48-3 shellacking to Green Bay last week thanks to a career-best game from Kyle Boller, who threw for 253 yards and three touchdowns. TE Todd Heap was on the receiving end of two of Boller's scoring strikes, finishing with nine catches for 110 yards. Jamal Lewis ran 22 times for 105 yards.

--Baltimore's dismal season has not carried over to its play at home. The Ravens have won five of seven home games, posting a 4-3 spread record in the process.

--The Vikings are 2-5 ATS as underdogs this year.

--The 'under' is 11-3 overall for the Vikings, 6-1 in their road games. Likewise, the 'under' has been a money maker for the Ravens, prevailing at a 9-4-1 overall rate. The 'under' is 6-1 for Baltimore at home.

**B.E.'s Bonus Nuggets**

--My pre-season pick for Rookie of the Year should prove correct following Saturday's performance by Tampa Bay RB Carnell "Cadillac" Williams, who ran for more than 100 yards and scored a tying touchdown late in the fourth quarter for the second time this year against Atlanta. Williams finished with 150 yards and one touchdown on 31 carries in a 27-24 win in overtime.

--With Saturday's loss at Tampa, the Falcons were eliminated from the playoffs. They have lost three games this season on last-second field goals, twice to the Bucs and once to the Patriots. If Atlanta loses next week to Carolina, it will continue a run of futility that has seen the franchise fail to ever post back-to-back winning seasons.

--Jacksonville RB Fred Taylor appears to be back into form, rushing for 101 yards on 22 totes in a 38-20 win at Houston that was much closer than the final score indicated.

--That a boy, Julius Jones. The second-year Dallas RB carried the ball 34 times for 194 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-20 win at Carolina that kept the Cowboys in the post-season chase.

--When it comes to getting a team ready to play after a deflating loss, has there ever been a better coach than Bill Parcells?

--If you're ever in Atlanta and in the mood for a good Cuban sandwich, check out a restaurant called Little Havana on the corner of Buford Highway and North Druid Hills.