The Chicago Bears (2-2) aim to maintain their flawless home record this season as they face the Carolina Panthers (1-3) this Sunday afternoon. The Bears have triumphed in both of their home games, recently extending their home winning streak to seven with a 24-18 victory against the Rams. Meanwhile, the Panthers achieved their first win on the road against Las Vegas two weeks ago, but suffered a setback, losing 34-24 to Cincinnati in Week 4. Historically, the Bears have an edge in this matchup, having won six of the last seven encounters, including a narrow 16-13 victory last November.
The kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET at Soldier Field, with the Bears favored by four points according to the latest odds, while the over/under is set at 40.5 points. As the game approaches, many are looking at detailed predictions from reliable models that simulate NFL games thousands of times.
These models have been quite successful, generating significant returns for bettors. As the NFL enters Week 5 of the 2024 season, one particular model boasts a solid track record of 188-131 on its top-rated NFL picks since 2017 and remains on an impressive streak of 42-23 on such picks since the middle of the 2022 season.
The model has also demonstrated consistent accuracy over the years, ranking among the top 10 for straight-up NFL picks, outperforming a large percentage of participants in CBS Sports Football Pick’em. Fans and bettors interested in this upcoming matchup are encouraged to check predictions available through various platforms.
Focusing on the Bears, their two losses occurred away from home, making this matchup at Soldier Field a favorable one for them. Last week, they managed to cover the spread as a three-point favorite against the Rams, highlighted by impressive performances from rookie quarterback Caleb Williams and running back D’Andre Swift. The Carolina defense will be facing challenges, especially after losing both starting inside linebackers to injury in the recent game against Cincinnati, which could leave them vulnerable.
On the Panthers’ side, they are coming off their best performance of the season against Las Vegas, thanks to veteran quarterback Andy Dalton, who stepped in for Bryce Young. Dalton has shown effectiveness, leading the team to a victory and contributing again in last week’s loss. Running back Chuba Hubbard is also experiencing a surge in form, having rushed over 100 yards in consecutive games.
Despite recent struggles, the Panthers have managed to cover the spread in four of their last six meetings against the Bears, providing some glimmer of hope. As the game nears, the model predictions suggest leaning toward the Over and also indicate a specific point-spread pick that has proven successful in most simulations.
Bettors and fans are left to consider which team will prevail in this matchup and which side of the spread is likely to be more successful this Sunday.