49ers vs. Bears Week 8 Picks: Niners Favored Again?

Sportsbook Review

Last Updated: October 28, 2021 3:51 AM EDT • 1 min 58 sec read. Twitter link Google News Link

Justin Fields of the Chicago Bears walks across the field in the first quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and we offer new U.S. bettors our exclusive bet365 bonus code. — Justin Fields of the Chicago Bears walks across the field in the first quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images via AFP.

As difficult as things are for the Chicago Bears, they have value as home underdogs for your Week 8 NFL picks – thanks to all the problems the San Francisco 49ers are having.

These are tough times for the 49ers. Just like last year, the Niners (2-4 straight up, 1-5 against the spread, 3-3 Over/Under) have been torn apart by early-season injuries – and concerns over their quarterback situation.

Not that the Bears will shed any tears for their Week 8 opponents. Chicago (3-4 SU and ATS, 1-6 O/U) has issues of its own but still looks like a viable pick as a moderate home dog on Sunday.

Here are my picks and predictions for the NFL Week 8 matchup between the 49ers and Bears (odds via PointsBet; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

49ers vs. Bears Week 8 Game Info

Date/Time: Sunday, October 31, 1 p.m. ETTV: FOXLocation: Soldier Field, Chicago, ILWeather: 54 degrees, 1 percent chance of precipitation

49ers vs. Bears Odds Analysis

The Niners are 4-point road favorites after losing outright to the Indianapolis Colts as 3.5-point home favorites last week. Some books have them listed at –3.5 at press time, which has held steady since the opening line.

The total for this matchup opened at 41 points, but the NFL lines started dropping on Monday – possibly because Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan expressed his support for incumbent starter QB Jimmy Garoppolo.

49ers vs. Bears Picks

Bears +4 (-107) (?)Over 39.5 (-110) (?)

49ers vs. Bears Predictions

Bears +4 (-107)

Garoppolo isn’t the only problem with the Niners, but he did have a rough outing in last week’s 30-18 loss to the Colts. He threw for just 181 yards with one touchdown pass and two interceptions.

Health is the real issue, as it was last year. DT Javon Kinlaw (knee) could become San Francisco’s 12th man on injured reserve. He missed the Colts game and may need season-ending surgery.

Bears QB Justin Fields has performed way worse than Garoppolo thus far, but Chicago’s defense and special teams have been solid.

The much-maligned Bears offensive line has also provided excellent run blocking, even if it can’t seem to protect Fields – or Andy Dalton before him.

Over 39.5 (-110)

Bettors appear to be over-reacting to the two quarterbacks involved in this matchup. The Under may have been the right play on the opening line, but maybe not so much now that the NFL odds have trimmed 1.5 points from the total.

Magic numbers don’t get talked about as much with totals as they do with spreads, but this line move takes us past some key numbers in 43, 41 and 40.

Sunday’s weather report doesn’t look too bad for the Windy City. It should be rainy all through Saturday morning, then clear up well in time for game day.

These are both one-star picks I’m making here, but as a rule, most of your NFL bets should be small ones. Save the big bets for games that deserve them.