The Bears have a much more difficult schedule than a year
\nago when they won 13 games but the NFC North is so weak that it will be
\ndifficult for Chicago not to win 10 or 11 games and capture a third straight
\ndivision title. (2006 regular season records in parentheses): <\/p>\n

CHICAGO BEARS (13-3 SU,
\n8-7-1 ATS)<\/span><\/strong>: It was a memorable off-season for the Bears who
\ndispatched team offensive MVP Thomas Jones, took a hard line with disgruntled
\nLB Lance Briggs, and parted ways with troubled DT Tank Johnson. Chicago<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>
\nwas second in the NFL in points scored last year, although leading the league
\nin points off turnovers was the main reason for that success. Cedric Benson
\ntakes over at RB<\/span> for Jones with much maligned Rex
\nGrossman still behind center. The Bears will win with their solid defense but
\nthe specter of just one Super Bowl loser even making the post-season in the
\npast six years,<\/span> looms over their heads.
\nBy the Numbers (Regular
\nSeason, 1998-2006)<\/span><\/span><\/strong>
\nSU: 68-76
\nATS: 73-64-7
\nHF<\/span>: 19-18-1
\nHD: 21-13
\nAF: 4-4-2<\/st1:date>
\nAD: 28-29-4
\nSportsbook Buster<\/span><\/strong>:
\nThe Bears are a combined 17-2-1<\/st1:date>
\nATS versus AFC West teams (San Diego<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>,
\nDenver<\/st1:City>, Kansas<\/st1:State><\/st1:place>
\nCity, Oakland<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>), all of whom they
\nplay this year.
\nNFL Betting Angle<\/span><\/strong>:
\nChicago<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> is just 1-6 as a favorite
\nafter a bye week. This year, the Bears are at Oakland<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>
\n(Nov. 11) after a week off. <\/p>\n

GREEN BAY PACKERS (8-8
\nSU, 7-9 ATS)<\/span><\/strong>: First year Head Coach Mike McCarthy\u2019s West Style
\noffense helped the Packers win twice as many games as the previous season but
\ncontinued improvement could be difficult to attain this year. QB Brett Favre is
\nstill the mainstay of an offense that will miss RB<\/span> Ahman<\/span> Green and doesn\u2019t have a stud at wide receiver. The
\nline is a work in progress. On defense, the Packers improved dramatically once
\nDT Cullen Jenkins moved outside, finishing in the middle of the pack (so to
\nspeak), statistically. This is not a very good team but this is not a tough
\ndivision, either.
\nBy the Numbers (Regular
\nSeason, 1998-2006)<\/span><\/span><\/strong>
\nSU: 84-60
\nATS: 68-72-4
\nHF<\/span>: 29-3-1-1
\nHD: 4-6-1<\/st1:date>
\nAF: 14-17-2
\nAD: 21-18
\nSportsbook Buster<\/span><\/strong>:
\nThe Packers are 6-0 ATS versus the Redskins, who they play Oct. 14.
\nNFL Betting Angle<\/span><\/strong>:
\nGreen Bay<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> has failed to cover seven
\nstraight games as a home underdog. <\/p>\n

DETROIT<\/span><\/strong><\/st1:place><\/st1:City> LIONS (3-13 SU, 6-10 ATS)<\/span><\/strong>:
\nOffensive coordinator Mike Martz\u2019 system did not work well in Detroit<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>
\nwhere a weak offensive line was responsible for the Lions finishing dead last
\nin the league in rushing. Head Coach Rod Marinelli<\/span>
\nwas equally disappointed by his freshly installed defensive scheme which
\nfinished 30^{th<\/sup> in the NFL in points allowed. Detroit<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>
\nfans are hoping that a full year under the new systems will yield better
\nresults this season and they may be right.
\nBy the Numbers (Regular
\nSeason, 1998-2006)<\/span><\/span><\/strong>
\nSU: 46-98
\nATS: 68-73-3
\nHF<\/span>: 11-17-1<\/st1:date>
\nHD: 26-16-1
\nAF: 0-6
\nAD: 31-34-1
\nSportsbook Buster<\/span><\/strong>:
\nThe Lions have covered five straight games against the Buccaneers, who they
\nplay at home, Oct. 21.
\nNFL Betting Angle<\/span><\/strong>:
\nDetroit<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> has proven to be a solid
\nhome underdog and terrible home favorite over the last nine years. <\/p>\n}

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (6-10
\nSU, 7-9 ATS)<\/span><\/strong>: Second year Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress,
\nthe offensive architect in Philadelphia, hopes that the addition of draft
\nchoices RB<\/span> Adrian Peterson (Oklahoma) and WR<\/span> Sidney Rice (South Carolina) will improve an attack that
\nranked just 26^{th<\/sup> in scoring last season. Having Tarvaris Jackson as
\nyour starting QB could be a problem, though. The defense lead the NFL against
\nthe run but was last against the pass last season. A better pass rush is needed
\nif Minnesota<\/st1:place><\/st1:State> is to stay ahead of Detroit<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>
\nin the fight to avoid the NFC North basement.
\nBy the Numbers (Regular
\nSeason, 2002-2006)<\/span><\/span><\/strong>
\nSU: 79-65
\nATS: 67-74-3
\nHF<\/span>: 30-28-1
\nHD: 8-5
\nAF: 12-19-2<\/st1:date>
\nAD: 17-22-1
\nSportsbook Buster<\/span><\/strong>:
\nThe Vikings are 5-0 ATS versus the Cowboys, who they play in Dallas<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>,
\nOct. 21.
\nNFL Betting Angle<\/span><\/strong>:
\nMinnesota<\/st1:place><\/st1:State> is a bad road team ATS,
\nespecially as an away favorite. <\/p>\n}

Legend:
\nSU = Straight Up
\nATS = Against the Spread
\nHF<\/span> = Home Favorite
\nHD = Home Underdog
\nAF = Away Favorite
\nAD = Away Underdog<\/o:p><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

Article is courtesy of the Greek Sportsbook<\/a>
\none of the few sportsbooks good enough to get the highest endorsement from the
\nwagering experts at OffshoreInsiders.com<\/a> <\/span><\/b><\/o:p><\/p>\n

<\/u1:p><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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