Titans vs. Bears Prediction, Picks & Odds: Week 1
- The dawn of an exciting new era starts in Chicago.
- Can Caleb Williams buck the trend of No. 1 picks in their debut?
- Tight ends' joy against the Titans.
An era full of promise and potential is about to start in Chicago, with Bears' prospective savior Caleb Williams primed for his regular-season debut against the Tennessee Titans at Soldier Field.
The Bears are not Super Bowl odds favorites, but many expect them to still be in the playoff mix when the temperature plummets in the Windy City.
Meanwhile, the Titans spent about $228 million in the offseason revamping their roster, hoping to see significant improvements from last season's 6-11 record.
Our Titans vs. Bears prediction - focusing on the spread and an appealing, albeit less talked about prop bet - is part of our NFL Week 1 predictions.
Best Titans vs. Bears picks
NFL picks based on the odds from our best NFL betting sites. Odds subject to change.
- Spread pick: Bears -3.5 (-110 via DraftKings) vs. Titans ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Player prop: Cole Kmet Over 22.5 receiving yards (-114 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Titans vs. Bears spread prediction: Week 1
Bears to cover the spread: -3.5 (-110) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I'll first address the woolly mammoth in the room. Since 1970, quarterbacks drafted first overall are 7-20 ATS in their first start.
While compelling, I feel the situation at Chicago Field on Sunday is tailor-fit to buck that trend. Williams appears poised and mature beyond his years, and he has one of the most dangerous arsenal of weapons at his disposal.
Last season, the Bears had the 22nd-ranked offense, 24th-ranked pass offense, and 23rd-ranked pass-blocking unit, according to PFF. I expect all of those rankings to improve considerably.
And their defense showed major signs of growth toward the tail end of last season, conceding an average of 15.5 points per game in the final six contests.
Titans spent a lot of money but have tons to prove
The Titans strengthened their roster at several key positions during the offseason. While they brought in Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd on the offensive side of the ball, their defense underwent the most comprehensive facelift.
Last season's defense ranked 28th overall, had the 24th-ranked run defense, and the 18th-best defensive DVOA before acquiring Chidobe Awuzie, Jamal Adams, Quandre Diggs, and Kenneth Murray Jr. in the offseason.
That said, Tennessee is led by second-year signal-caller Will Levis, who finished his rookie season with a 2-6 record (3-5 ATS).
Levis doesn't have Derrick Henry to lessen the load, and his primary target, DeAndre Hopkins, is questionable. Even if Hopkins returns, he won't be game-sharp after missing most of the preseason with a knee injury.
For me, that's too much for Levis to overcome in such a hostile environment.
The -110 odds will yield a $9.09 profit on a winning $10 bet.
Best odds: -110 via DraftKings | Implied probability: 52.38%
Titans vs. Bears player prop
Cole Kmet Over 22.5 receiving yards (-114) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Williams will want to adjust to the NFL in the most safe manner, ensuring he secures the ball at all costs.
Cue Cole Kmet, who will offer a quick and reliable target for the rookie in the short passing game. We've already seen that connection in the preseason, and it's a beauty:
This week, Kmet is working against a Titans team that allowed the sixth-most receiving yards per game against opposing tight ends last season.
In addition, Kmet had at least 23 receiving yards in the final five games of last season and eight of the previous nine.
FanDuel offers the best price of our best sports betting sites for this prop. A winning $10 bet will yield an $8.77 profit.
Best odds: -114 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 53.27%
Titans vs. Bears odds
See all of this week's NFL odds and NFL scores.
Titans vs. Bears game info
- When: Sunday, Sept. 8
- Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET
- Where: Soldier Field (Chicago)
- How to watch: FOX, NFL+
- Weather: 72 degrees, sunny, no chance of precipitation, 9 mph W
- Favorite: Bears (-180 via DraftKings)
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