Betting the Bears vs. Raiders: Can Chicago cover as a road underdog?

It’s hard to believe that we’re already in to week five of the NFL season, but the season always moves fast.

And the season comes at you fast if you’re a gambler or picker of any type, upsets are always abound and if you’re not careful, you’ll be caught out and that was the case for eight people in the survivor league.

Seven took their first strikes on the Tennessee Titans, trying to prey on the Jets and then one person took a strike on the Saints, who were upset by the Giants.

There’s plenty of traps coming up this week, but at the same time, at this point in the season we kind of know who teams are as well.

Over in the pick ‘ems league, I couldn’t replicate my absolutely insane pace of two weeks ago when I went 14-for-16 and I fell smack back to earth with a barely-above-average 9 point week.

MonstersoftheMidway lost his lead as he was overtaken by Ya Bish!, who led the week with a 13 and has 45 overall. WhiteH20, who was near the top of the leaderboard last year is tied with Monsters for second with 43 points.

For the Bears, they go out to Vegas and face a surprising Raiders squad coming off a short week and their first loss of the season. What’s it going to take for Chicago?

Chicago Bears at Las Vegas Raiders (-5.5, O/U 44.5)

The Bears are on the road again and try to cover as a road underdog for the first time this season. The Bears ended last year 4-3 as road underdogs in the regular season and 4-4 if you count their postseason game.

The Bears are 6-7 as road underdogs under Matt Nagy.

For what it’s worth, Chicago did not cover the last time they met the Raiders, in London, as 5.5 point favorites.

This game opened with Vegas as touchdown favorites but people hammered Chicago to bring it down. The total also has dropped half a point to a point, depending on the book.

This is a tough one, because I think that both teams can score, the Raiders are playing well, but have very real questions. The same could be said of the Bears, with a rookie quarterback and only one new-look offense game on tape.

I’m also trying to get off a bad Bears picks streak myself, I haven’t correctly picked a side since week one but I did finally pick the right total last week.

I’m leaning Bears here, I think that they can put up some points against the Raiders and that they will be able to at least keep it close, even if the Raiders will get a few big plays of their own.

I will play the under here as well, although that makes me a little nervous. I know what the Raiders are capable of but I think ultimately the Bears defense will make enough stops or force enough field goals to keep it under.

In survivor I’m rolling with the Patriots against the Texans. Davis Mills is not very good and although there’s some nice options against the Jets and Jaguars, I don’t think there’s going to be another week where I feel great about New England, so why not burn them here?

Picks: Bears +5.5, under 44.5, Patriots (survivor)