NFL FOOTBALL BETTING PREDICTION - GREEN BAY PACKERS @ CHICAGO BEARS

NFL Football

2007-12-23 - Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears

A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown

GREEN BAY PACKERS @ CHICAGO BEARS
Sunday, December 23, 1:00 p.m. ET
Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

CHICAGO BEARS

Chicago's Super Bowl hangover has cost them any chance of making the playoffs this season and they have only been good enough for a 5-9 record which also leaves them at the bottom of the NFC North after winning the division at a canter last year. Their close defeat on Monday night to rivals Minnesota ended any doubts about where this team is heading.

The Bears are a disappointing 2-4 at Soldier Field this season. Their inconsistancy during the middle part of the season has been replaced by consistant losing and they currently ride a 3 match losing streak. They have also lost of 4 of their last 5. Chicago have lost the last 3 from 4 at home. Their offense continues to struggle to put up points while the aging defense struggles to keep teams out of their own endzone. This match today is going to be very tough after that tough loss in Minnesota on Monday night. Chicago have failed to score more than 16 points in any of their last 3 defeats.

Mark Anderson may be missing for Chicago who have many problems at the defensive positions. Rex Grossman is unlikely to be able to start so Kyle Orton will continue to deputise.

GREEN BAY PACKERS

Green Bay were given an incredible chance by the Philadelphia Eagles to gain home field advantage throughout the playoffs last week when they defeated the Dallas Cowboys. Having all roads coming through a frozen Lambeau Field in January may give the Packers the edge in making the Super Bowl.

Green Bay are 12-2 and find themselves laf a game behind Dallas in the race for the number 1 seed but also know that, due to tie break rules, 1 defeat will mean Dallas will be the number 1 seeds. With Detroit at home next week while Dallas travel to Washington, this is a must win game for Green Bay.

Green Bay are a solid 6-1 on the road this season, the only defeat coming at Dallas. They have won 2 straight matches since that loss and have also win 8 of their last 9 matches. Green Bay have been very good on the road this season in winning 4 of 6 games by double digits while the other 2 wins were by 6 points and 7 points. They have also scored at least 27 points in their last 4 road games. The Packers have also broken the 30 point mark in 6 of their last 7 games.

Charles Woodson is likely to take his place opposite Al Harris at corner back. Bubba Franks may also be back to add more depth to the Green Bay receiving corps.

HEAD TO HEAD AND STATS

Chicago actually inflicted one of Green Bay's defeats with a 27-20 win at Lambeau earlier this season as the Packers blew a 10 point half time lead. However Green Bay have a good recent record in Chicago, winning 3 of the last 4 there and Brett Favre has an excellent 13-2 record on the road against the Bears.

Chicago are 5-9 ATS this season and this is only 1-5 at home. Green Bay, on the other hand, are 11-2-1 ATS and 6-1-0 on the road.

Green Bay are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 matches at Soldier Field and have won 7 of their last 8 ATS overall. The Bears have lost 3 of their last 5 ATS.

It will be a typical Chicago December weather with snow expected and wind. Green Bay should be accustomed to dealing with such conditions and Favre's short passes should not be effected too much.

PREDICTION

Chicago worked so hard to knock of the Vikings last week and gave Tavaris Jackson a terrible day. However the Packers score lots of points and I cant see the team having enough to keep in touch.

Normally with a spread like this against a divisional rival I would take the points, but Green Bay have huge motivation to win and Chicago might just be too tired after last weeks exhertions.

The Pick :