Two streaking teams will square off in the Week 9 Monday Night Football game, as the skidding Chicago Bears (3-5 SU, 3-5 ATS) visit the hot Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3, 3-4) as solid road underdogs at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark. The Bears have dropped their last three games both SU and ATS after a 33-22 home loss to the San Francisco 49ers as 4.5-point underdogs while the Steelers have won three in a row following a disappointing 1-3 start to the season.
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
Recency bias has helped move the line up to -6.5 in favor of Pittsburgh, which should not be surprising to any bettors or followers of these teams. Chicago is playing terrible football right now, as a 20-9 upset victory at Las Vegas in Week 5 seems like a distant memory. Since then, the Bears have been outscored 95-39 by three teams that have played in the NFC championship game over the past two seasons. The Steelers were written off as dead by many after getting outscored 77-44 during a three-game skid earlier this season before rebounding with a three-game winning streak. The total is also down to 40 in early wagering action, as points could be at a premium in this one.
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Chicago News & Notes
Chicago’s defense was the bigger issue in the loss to San Francisco, giving up more than 30 points for the second consecutive game and for the third time this season.
Khalil Mack (foot) was ruled out Sunday and might not make the trip to Pittsburgh. Without Mack on the field, the Bears did not sack 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who threw for a season-high 322 yards and also rushed for two touchdowns.
While Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is certainly not a threat to run the football like Garoppolo, not pressuring him makes him equally dangerous with his arm as he has been known to extend plays.
Pittsburgh News & Notes
Pittsburgh got rid of reserve pass rusher Melvin Ingram at the NFL trade deadline, and that move can only help the chemistry of the team, removing a player who obviously did not want to be there.
The Steelers flexed their defensive muscles in a 15-10 road win over the Cleveland Browns last week, sacking quarterback Baker Mayfield four times and holding their rushing attack to just 96 yards on 23 carries.
Pittsburgh rookie running back Najee Harris had nearly that amount on his own with 91 yards on 26 carries, including a touchdown, and his emergence has taken some pressure off Big Ben.
How Chicago Will Cover
Chicago will not win a shootout, although the offense was better with head coach Matt Nagy away from the team due to COVID-19. That is no surprise, as fans continue to call for his dismissal even when he is not on the sidelines. Regardless, the D must come through and play better, as the Bears have allowed 17 points or less in their three wins.
How Pittsburgh Will Cover
Balance has been the key for the Steelers offensively during their winning streak, with Harris averaging 98 yards on the ground on at least 23 carries and getting 25 total touches in each game over that stretch. If they keep riding him like that, they will win and cover.
Computer Pick: Steelers -6.5
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