Betting Picks

Seahawks at Bears: MNF NFL Week 2 Betting Preview and Pick

Both the Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Bears were arguably one play from pulling off road upsets in Week 1 of the new NFL season. Alas, close only counts in hand grenades and horseshoes, and both clubs are 0-1 heading into the Monday night matchup from the Windy City to conclude Week 2. Here is your MNF NFL Week 2 betting pick.

Who should be your MNF NFL Week 2 betting pick?

The Bears are 3.5-point favorites and will be our NFL against the spread pick. The total is one of the lowest on the Week 2 betting board at 43 points. Seattle leads the all-time series 11-6, including playoffs, and has taken the past three. The clubs haven’t met since 2015 and not at Soldier Field since 2012.

Why Chicago will cover the spread

Players usually like the extra day off ahead of a Monday night game, but the Bears probably are itching to get back on the field after – there’s really no better word – choking away last Sunday night’s game at arch-rival Green Bay. The Bears were up 17-0 at the half and appeared to have knocked Packers’ star QB Aaron Rodgers out of the game due to a knee injury.

However, Rodgers returned in the second half and threw three fourth-quarter touchdown passes to rally his team from a 20-3 hole to a 24-23 victory. It was one of the most unlikely wins in the history of the NFL’s oldest rivalry. Some believe that Bears first-year coach Matt Nagy coached “scared” after halftime with that big advantage.

It was also the Chicago debut of newly-acquired linebacker Khalil Mack. The 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year was remarkable with a sack, forced fumble and interception return for a touchdown. That came against a pretty good Packers offensive line. Seattle’s is among the NFL’s worst. Mack is a major reason why the Bears should be your MNF NFL Week 2 betting pick this week.

Seattle betting notes for Monday

The Seahawks simply are no longer the Super Bowl contenders they have been for most of this decade. Too many losses on defense and, as noted above, the offensive line is porous and may get star QB Russell Wilson injured sooner rather than later.

In Sunday’s 27-24 loss in Denver, Wilson was sacked six times and fumbled twice. He was also intercepted twice to offset his three touchdown passes, which came to three different receivers. More bad news: Top receiver Doug Baldwin suffered a partially torn MCL in his right knee in the loss and is out indefinitely. Baldwin has led Seattle in receiving in five of his seven NFL seasons. So now the Seahawks might have one of the NFL’s worst group of receivers.

Chicago vs. Seattle line movement

This line opened with the Bears at -3 nearly everywhere. The total opened at 43.5, but dipped to its current number.

Chicago vs. Seattle matchup trends

• Both franchises have had success on Monday night in recent years, with Seattle winning 11 of its past 12 on MNF, and Chicago 12 of its previous 17.
• The Bears have covered just three of their past 12 in September – but one was last week. All those other ATS losses were under John Fox.