Bears' Betting Guide Ahead of 2022 NFL Season

Tough times could be ahead for the Chicago Bears. This is a young team coming off a 6-11 season and is likely going to need some time before it returns to being a playoff contender.

Bettors need to keep that in mind when placing wagers involving the Bears entering the 2022 campaign, a year in which the team could endure more growing pains.

However, it is also the start of a new era in Chicago, with Matt Eberflus getting his first opportunity to be an NFL head coach during the upcoming season.

Could the Bears surprise some people? Even if they don't, which players from their core of youngsters will put up some big numbers? Make the right choices and it's possible to win some money from bets involving Chicago placed prior to the team's season opener against the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 11.

Here's a full Bears betting guide to help as you're considering placing wagers for the 2022 NFL season. (All odds come from DraftKings Sportsbook.)

Odds to Win NFC North: +1400

Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

LAKE FOREST, IL - JULY 27: Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus looks on during the Chicago Bears Training Camp on July 27, 2022 at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, IL. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Bears are the biggest long shot among the four NFC North teams to win the division crown in 2022. Their line of +1400 (bet $100 to win $1,400) is even worse than the Detroit Lions' odds to capture the title entering the year (+1000).

Over the past 11 seasons, Chicago has finished first in the NFC North only once (2018). Even when the Bears have been solid, they haven't been able to get ahead of the Green Bay Packers, which have captured the division crown eight times in the past 11 years.

The Packers (-190; bet $190 to win $100) are the favorite to win the NFC North again this season, and they likely will. If any team is going to end their three-year reign atop the division, it will be the Minnesota Vikings (+265).

It's not going to be the Bears, so don't bet on them to do so. There will be division titles in Chicago's future, but those are likely at least a few years away.

Over/Under Win Total: 6.5

AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski

Fans watch the second half of an NFL football game between the Chicago Bears and New York Giants, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)

The oddsmakers don't think the Bears are going to be much better this season than they were in 2021 when they went 6-11. In fact, they may end up with an even worse record.

It's more likely Chicago finishes with six or fewer wins (-150; bet $150 to win $100) than seven or more (+125). The Bears may struggle in divisional matchups, especially if the Lions take a sizable step forward from last year.

Chicago could get off to a tough start, with difficult games against San Francisco and Green Bay to open the season. But the Bears will have opportunities to pick up some victories against the Houston Texans (Week 3), New York Giants (Week 4), Atlanta Falcons (Week 11) and New York Jets (Week 12).

But it's hard to look through the team's schedule and find more than six potential wins. So bet the under on this one.

Player Props to Consider

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet runs with a ball at the NFL football team's practice facility in Lake Forest, Ill., Tuesday, May 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Justin Fields over 3.5 rushing touchdowns (-140)

Justin Fields has a ton of talent and potential. Not only can he move the ball through the air well, but he's also capable of using his legs to pick up yardage. And he's going to get better than he was as a rookie in 2021, when he endured some growing pains once becoming the starting quarterback.

However, it could be a bit of a challenge for the 23-year-old to put up huge passing numbers this season. The Bears don't have a great receiving corps, with a lack of impact playmakers beyond Darnell Mooney on the depth chart.

That could lead to Fields using his legs more and Chicago relying on its running game to power its offense.

In the red zone, the Ohio State product has the ability to get the ball into the end zone himself. So after scoring a pair of rushing touchdowns last year, he'll at least double that number in 2022.

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Cole Kmet over 585.5 receiving yards (-115)

While the Bears' roster may not have a tremendous group of wide receivers, it does have a tight end who may be on the cusp of a breakout.

Cole Kmet became a much bigger part of Chicago's offense in 2021, when he had 60 catches for 612 yards in 17 games in his second NFL season.

Even though the 23-year-old exceeded the 600-yard mark last year, the over/under for his total this season is set at 585.5. And it may not be difficult for him to pass that number, considering fellow tight end Jimmy Graham is no longer with the Bears.

Kmet should be one of Fields' top targets in 2022. It should be safe to bet on the Notre Dame product recording at least 586 receiving yards, and he may end up with way more than that.

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