NFL FOOTBALL BETTING PREDICTION - NEW ORLEANS SAINTS @ CHICAGO BEARS

NFL Football

2007-12-30 - New Orleans Saints at Chicago Bears

A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS @ CHICAGO BEARS
Sunday, December 30, 1:00 p.m. ET
Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

I am sure that most people at the beginning of the season looked at the schedule and figured this would be a meaningless game for the Bears. However I would add that most of those would have thought this game was going to be meaningless because the Bears would have already dominated the NFC North and wrapped up a playoff spot already.

Chicago Bears

Unfortunately for the Bears, the team is already out of contention after suffering a Super Bowl hangover from last season. They have a 6-9 record and are 4th in the NFC North after winning the division easily last season and they were particularly bad against their divisional rivals with a 2-4 record.

Chicago have been a disappointing 3-4 record at Soldier Field this season, although they have won 2 of their last 3 matches there including last week when they blew out Green Bay. Their defence has come alive in recent weeks, restricting teams to under 24 points in each of the last 4 weeks, although they have lost 3 of those matches. The last 2 weeks has seen the team pick up 6 interceptions and their special teams is also giving their offense good field position.

Mark Anderson and Nathan Vasher both miss out for Chicago as their defence looks for one last big effort this season. Lance Briggs should play and Kyle Orton should continue as the QB.

New Orleans Saints

New Orleans competed against the Chicago Bears in last seasons NFC Championship game but are almost going to join the Bears in missing out on the playoffs this season. They almost recovered from their 0-4 start, but a couple more lapses in matches since means they have been left with a 7-8 record.

Last week they were heavily beaten at home by the Philadelphia Eagles which means they need both the Washington Redskins and the Minnesota Vikings to lose this week and win themselves if they wish to make the wild card matches next week.

The Saints have been better on the road this season with a 4-3 record. They have won 4 out of 5 on the road and have won 2 straight since being easily beaten at the Houston Texans. They have been scoring points for fun, at least 23 points in each of the last 5 games.

However they have lost both games where they totalled under 30 points and won the 3 games where they passed that mark. The defence is not really stopping anyone and they have allowed 24 points or more in 3 of their last 4 games.

Reggie Bush is out for this game and his backup, Aaron Stecker, is also doubtful to take part.

Statistics

Chicago have won the last 2 games against the Saints including the aforementioned Championship game last season here in Chicago. New Orleans Saints had won 3 straight before this current Bears streak.

Both teams are 6-9 against the spread this season, but the Bears are 2-5 at home and the Saints are 4-3 on the road. The Bears are also 5-6 against the spread when playing on grass, while the Saints are 2-2 on the same surface.

The Bears have won 2 straight against the spread and the Saints have won 2 of their last 3.

It is going to be cold in Chicago as you would expect at this time of the year. The wind should not be as strong as it was last week which is good news for Drew Brees but there is a small chance of rain or snow.

PREDICTION

The bookies have made the Saints favourites for this match and I feel this could be down to the fact that they NEED the win rather than anything else as tend to happen at this time of the season.

The Bears found a running game last week, and their defence has really played well the last 2 weeks. The Saints have a really bad defence and they are giving up lots of points.

I think this game will be close because I dont have full confidence in Kyle Orton and the Bears running back Adrian Peterson will be the key.

Drew Brees will find it hard to throw in the weather than can affect Soldier Field in December so I will favour the Bears.

The Pick :