NFL Betting – Chicago Bears an NFC North Title Contender?

The Chicago Bears have big plans for the future now that they have their QB of the future in tow in Jay Cutler. Cutler didn’t work out well last year for the Bears leading to numerous NFL against the spread and straight up losses but he didn’t have a whole lot of help.

Cutler took the blame but he has a chance to come out and redeem himself this year. He doesn’t have a ton of help on offense but the Bears have a better all-around team which should allow Cutler’s mistakes from trying to do too much not stand out as much should they occur.

The Bears won’t be a favorite according to the NFL against the spread odds in most games but they will be a solid all-around team with a chance to make some noise, win the NFC North, and perhaps get into the playoffs. At the projected win total of 8, the Bears have a lot of work to do to make betting fans happy this time around, however.

The defense could be much improved with the addition of Julius Peppers via free agency adding to a pass rush that has languished in recent years. Brian Urlacher should be back for a defense that will all of a sudden gain two premium impact players this season.

On offense, the Bears are hoping for maturation from young receivers like Johnny Knox and Devin Aromashadu along with Devin Hester, all of whom have shown potential. They’ll need to do some off-season work to get on the same page with Cutler if they hope to make improvements and cut down on the bad throws, routes, and miscommunications that plagued them last year.

If that can happen and new addition Chester Taylor gives the Bears another option to keep Matt Forte fresh at running back, the Bears can do well in the NFL against the spread department.

But beating the NFL odds against the spread won’t be easy in an improved division for the Bears, who will likely finish just short of win predictions.

Chicago Bears 2010 prediction: 7-9.