The Green Bay Packers are big favorites at home on Thursday night as they host the Chicago Bears on CBS. The Packers will be concluding a four-game homestand that hasn’t been anything special. The Packers have big concerns on offense as quarterback Aaron Rodgers is not playing well and they have injury issues at running back and cornerback. On the other side, the Bears are in far worse shape as they come into this game at 1-5. Let’s look at the matchup and free Thursday NFL picks.
This game in Week 7 of the regular season is set for Thursday, October 20, 2016, at 8:25 pm Eastern on CBS.
NFL Betting Odds at Sports Betting Sites USA
Green Bay Odds in Favor of the Packers for Thursday Night Football -9.5, 46
Bears vs. Packers
The Bears are a mess at 1-5 but most of the attention in this game is on the Packers who are 3-2 and not looking like a Super Bowl contender. Head coach Mike McCarthy is answering all kinds of questions about his poor offense and now he has injury issues to deal with. The Packers might be without all three of their top cornerbacks, Sam Shields (concussion), Damarious Randall (groin) and Quinten Rollins (groin).
The situation at running back isn’t much better as James Starks is out with a knee injury while Eddie Lacy has a sprained ankle. It could be that wide receiver Ty Montgomery will be the No. 2 running back on Thursday.
“We’ve got to see who’s out there playing. If Eddie can’t go, and James can’t go, we’re going to need to do something — either bring somebody up or figure out a way to use Ty most effectively,” quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. “That’s the most important thing, to get healthy. And that’ll allow us to get in some other personnel groups, hopefully. If not, then we’re going to have to go to just a couple personnel groups where we feel good about Ty in the backfield.”
NFL Odds
This is the 11th straight season the Bears and Packers will play a prime time game. The Packers are 14-7 against the Bears during the regular and postseason under head coach Mike McCarthy. The Packers have scored 30-plus points in four of the last five contests against Chicago. The Packers have won six of the last eight meetings against the Bears at Lambeau Field.
The Bears are 7-15 ATS in their last 22 vs. the NFC North. The Bears are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games. The Packers are 9-3-1 ATS in their last 13 games in October. The Packers are 2-5-1 ATS at online sportsbooks in their last 8 home games.
The Over is 4-1 in the Bears last 5 road games. The Under is 8-1 in the Packers last 9 home games. The Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
Free Thursday NFL Picks
I will lay the points at sports betting sites USA and take the Packers and also play the game over the total.
