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- Chicago (2-7) is a 3-point home favorite over the Panthers (1-7) on Thursday Night Football
- The Bears have Carolina’s No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft after the Panthers traded up to select Bryce Young No. 1 overall last year
- Week 10’s matchup kicks off from Soldier Field in Chicago, IL at 8:15pm ET
Thursday Night Football has long been known for putting some of the NFL’s worst’s teams in primetime, but this week takes the cake. Both coming off losses on Sunday, Chicago and Carolina now have a combined 3-14 record. With their seasons circling the drain, they’ll go head-to-head in a matchup that isn’t even relevant for fantasy football.
Before we check the odds for this battle for the basement, here’s where you can find the best Super Bowl betting tips and the top betting sites for NFL football in 2023.
Bears vs Panthers
 | Spread | Money Line | Total Points |
| Carolina Panthers | +3.0 (-115) | +126 | Ov 41 (-110) |
| Chicago Bears | -3.0 (-105) | -148 | Un 41 (-110) |
Carolina’s big mistake
Well, the Panthers made an enormous error at the 2023 NFL Draft. On the same day that No. 2 overall pick C.J. Stroud passed for 470 yards and five touchdowns, Bryce Young threw three interceptions, with two pick-6’s, in a 27-13 loss to the Colts on Sunday. To make matters worse, Carolina traded a bevy of high draft picks and receiver DJ Moore to Chicago to trade up to No. 1 and select Young.
While it’s hard to lose a trade with general manager Ryan Poles, Scott Fitterer and Frank Reich certainly did. And their gigantic gaffe will be under the microscope on Thursday Night Football. Carolina has the worst record (1-7) in the NFL and the Bears have their No. 1 pick in the loaded 2024 NFL Draft.
CJ Stroud Today: 470 Yards, 5 TDs
Bryce Young today: Two Pick Sixes pic.twitter.com/GykSzBHiOT
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) November 5, 2023
Bears without Justin Fields
Chicago was willing to move out of the No. 1 slot in the 2023 NFL Draft because the organization thought they had their quarterback of the future in Justin Fields. The 24-year-old was back at practice last week, but his thumb injury will likely keep him out another week.
Fields’ replacement Tyson Bagent committed four turnovers in a 24-17 defeat to the Saints in week 9. The undrafted rookie tossed two of his three interceptions in the fourth quarter and was also strip-sacked on the Bears’ final possession.
Chicago vs Carolina
Chicago is a 3-point home favorite on Thursday with the over/under set at 41 points. While both defenses rank bottom-five in points allowed per week, neither team is capable of lighting it up on the scoreboard. Carolina is averaging under 18 points per game and the Bears offense with Bagent has struggled in two-straight losses to the Chargers and Saints.
The Panthers average 90.3 rushing yards per game (8th worst) and Matt Eberflus’ D is permitting the third-fewest rushing yards (78.8) per week. However, Young has an exploitable matchup with Chicago’s 30th-ranked pass defense.
“If Tyson Bagent keeps playing like he is, I don’t know how they can go back to Justin Fields.”
–#NFL legend Boomer Esiason
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) November 5, 2023
D’Onta Foreman revenge game?
D’Onta Foreman ran for 914 yards and 5 TDs while powering the Panthers down the stretch last season. He signed with the Bears in the offseason and fell to third on the depth chart before taking over the backfield in recent weeks. After rumbling for 83 yards on 20 carries against the Saints on Sunday, the big bruising back is now averaging 4.5 yards per carry with three combined TDs. Carolina allows the fourth-most rushing yards per game (139.4).
Best Bet
Both these franchises are almost impossibly bad with one boneheaded decision after another. With poor football bound to be played on both sides, we almost have to take the points. We like Carolina to cover (+3) in the Windy City on Thursday night with the OVER 41.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
