Bears vs. Panthers Prediction: Week 1 Odds, Picks & Best Bet
My best Bears vs. Panthers prediction anticipates a slow start for Caleb Williams and the Bears against last year's NFC South champions. The Bears are favored by 3 points, and I believe that the Panthers aren't getting nearly enough credit from oddsmakers as the home team in this game. Below, I explain why the Panthers' rushing attack may help them not only cover the spread but also win this game.
Sunday's 1 p.m. ET contest will be played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. It will air on FOX and stream on FOX One.
🏈 Bears vs. Panthers picks & predictions
See all of our experts' NFL picks for Week 1 based on the latest NFL odds.
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💰 Bears vs. Panthers prediction & best bet
Panthers +3.5 (-125 via Caesars)
Including the postseason, eight of the Bears' 12 wins last season came in one-possession games. In fact, only one of the Bears' road wins was by more than five points. For as good as the Bears were, they posted a -5.3 average point differential in road games.
Meanwhile, including the postseason, the Panthers were 5-4 at home, with wins over the Rams, Cowboys, and Buccaneers. Though he didn't throw for many yards, quarterback Bryce Young took care of the ball, throwing only four interceptions in home games.
The Panthers averaged 133.2 rushing yards per game at home, which was the seventh-most in the league. Though Rico Dowdle is gone, Chuba Hubbard will be joined by Jonathon Brooks, who didn't play at all last season but averaged 6.1 yards per carry in his final collegiate season.
📡 SBR Edge
Much of the Bears' success last season was because they were one of just four teams to finish with a turnover differential of +20 or more since 2014. None of the previous three teams finished with a differential better than +3 the following year.
Bears' defense will allow the Panthers to keep this close
For the Bears, the story of this season is their offense. However, the defense is ultimately why I'm taking the Panthers on Sunday. Last year, the Bears had the worst road defense in the NFL, allowing 30.4 points per game.
While the Panthers averaged just 19.0 points per game last season, they managed 22.0 points per game at home. And if the Panthers are a run-first team again, they should have an advantage against a defense that finished 26th in rushing yards allowed per game last year.
Score prediction: Panthers 25 Bears 24
📊 Bears vs. Panthers odds
See the latest NFL odds for every Week 1 matchup.
Bears vs. Panthers opening odds
- Moneyline: Bears -150 | Panthers +130
- Spread: Bears -2.5 (-110) | Panthers +2.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: Over 44.5 (-110) | Under 44.5 (-110)
📺 How to watch Bears vs. Panthers: Week 1
- Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
- Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET
- Location: Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, N.C.)
- TV: FOX
- Streaming: FOX One
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