Chicago Bears vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Betting Odds, Analysis, NFL Pick

The Chicago Bears (2-6) will try to win two straight games for the first time in a year when they visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5) on Sunday.

The Bears are coming off their bye and last won two straight when they beat the San Diego Chargers and St. Louis Rams in consecutive weeks last season. Chicago also won 26-21 at Tampa Bay last December 26.

Point spread: The Buccaneers opened as two-point favorites; the total was 45 early in the week, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark (line updates and matchup report).

NFL pick, via Odds Shark computer: 26.0-23.8 Buccaneers (NFL picks on every game).

Why the Bears can cover the spread

The Bears have defeated former head coach Lovie Smith's Buccaneers in each of the previous two years and now face his old offensive coordinator in Dirk Koetter, who took the helm after last season.

Before the bye, Chicago saw quarterback Jay Cutler successfully return from a thumb injury in a 20-10 win over the Minnesota Vikings as five-point home underdogs thanks in part to a motivational speech he gave the team.

Tampa Bay is beaten up physically following a 43-28 home loss to the Atlanta Falcons in last week's Thursday night game, and that should help the Bears too.

Why the Buccaneers can cover the spread

There are not many favorable betting trends in this matchup unless you consider negative ones for the opponents. In the case of the Bucs, Chicago is 0-4 straight up in its last four games after a win and 2-7 SU and against the spread in its previous nine overall.

Tampa Bay is still hoping to have running back Doug Martin back for the first time since Week 2, and he would definitely help the team in both the running and passing games. Martin has been rehabbing a hamstring injury, and others behind him on the depth chart are also hurt.

Smart pick

The Bears are trying to begin a second season with a goal of winning out, something that will be difficult to accomplish the rest of the way. However, knocking off the Bucs should not be too difficult considering they have lost six in a row at home both SU and ATS. Chicago is getting better and Tampa worse, so ride with the road team here.

Betting trends

The Buccaneers are 0-6 SU and ATS in their last six games at home.

The Bears are 2-7 SU and ATS in their last nine games.

The total has gone over in 26 of the Bears' last 35 games after a win.

All NFL betting lines and point spreads data courtesy of Bleacher Report’s official odds partner, Odds Shark. All quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line movement updates and Odds Shark YouTube for picks and analysis, or download the free odds tracker app.