The NFL season opener is this Thursday, September 5th with one of the league’s most storied rivalries, Chicago Bears vs Green Bay Packers. The history between these two teams goes way back to 1921 and currently Green Bay holds the record at 97-95-6. The burning question every sports gambler wants to know is where do I put my money?
I know the phrase very well, “Don’t bet with you’re heart”, but my money is fully on Chicago, more specifically Chicago and the under! Yes, most people love to watch their team come out and completely dismantle their opponent. However, I am predicting a low scoring defensively dominant game with Khalil Mack leading the way for the Bears.
The Teams:
Chicago is coming into 2019 hot! The heartbreaking ending of 2018 has left the team fully focused on redemption. For the most part Chicago is coming back the same team. On the defense side of the ball Adrian Amos went to Green Bay and Bryce Callahan followed Vic Fangio to Denver. Offensively, Jordan Howard went to Philadelphia and not surprisingly the double-doink master Cody Parkey was quickly let go.
The flip side is all those the additions! Chicago’s most notable defensive pick-up is Safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. Clinton-Dix is coming from Green Bay; coming from a division rival has its own benefits. Also HaHa was teammates with Eddie Jackson at Alabama. This safety combo alone screams nothing but trouble for quarterbacks. Offensively, two major standouts from the draft are RB David Montgomery from Iowa State and WR Riley Ridley out of Georgia. Chicago also added depth with picking up WR Cordell Peterson from New England.
Green Bay is coming off a very anti-climatic 6-9-1 2018 season and seems to be in the rebuilding stages. Aaron Rodgers is still Aaron Rodgers, but no quarterback can do it on their own. Packers can rely on Rodgers and veteran Jimmy Graham to carry the offense. Defensively Green Bay can look to former Chicago safety Adrian Amos to possibly make things difficult for Mitch Trubisky.
The current spread:
Chicago -3 Over/Under- 46
My Prediction:
Chicago 23 Green Bay 10.
Look for Chicago’s defense to force multiple turnovers and Trubisky to be calm, cool and collected in the NFL 2019 season opener.
