NFL Picks Week 4: Carolina Panthers vs. Chicago Bears Prop Bets

The Carolina Panthers (1-2) and Chicago Bears (1-2) are set to meet in Week 4 of the 2011 NFL regular season inside Soldier Field.

Oddsmakers opened Chicago as 6.5-point home favorites and that's where the line has remained for most of the week, while the total has fallen from 44 to 42.5 in most spots.

Casual bettors will definitely be interested in proposition wagers in this contest due to the quarterback matchup of Cam Newton versus Jay Cutler.

Let's take a closer look at three prop bets that will earn you cash Sunday in the Windy City.

Greg Olsen and Jeremy Shockey Receiving Yards

Carolina Panthers' tight end Greg Olsen knows his way around the Soldier Field turf and will be highly motivated for Sunday's contest.

Quarterback Cam Newton seems to have gained more chemistry with him as well, connecting on seven passes for 57 yards in last week's 16-10 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Carolina head coach Ron Rivera knows the linebackers on the other sidelines as well as anyone in the league, while Olsen is accustomed to facing the Bears defense in practice due to his four years in the Windy City.

Jeremy Shockey is an added bonus with his nine catches for 137 yards over the first three weeks.

Pick:  Greg Olsen and Jeremy Shockey Over 90.5 receiving yards (-110)

Matt Forte, Receiving and Rushing Yards

Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte suffered through a forgettable contest last week, gaining just two yards on nine carries in a 27-17 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

The fourth-year back is likely to bounce back versus a Carolina Panthers defense that he ran for a career-high 166 yards and two touchdowns last year.

He has been a force in the passing attack, catching 22 passes for 287 yards and touchdown—well on his way to breaking his career-high of 63 catches set in his rookie season.

Pick:  Over 126.5 receiving and rushing yards (-115)

First Downs

I believe that the Chicago Bears will get back on the winning track this week, as the team will get back to running the football after suffering back-to-back losses.

Offensive coordinator Mike Martz has taken a lot of heat for calling 82 pass plays versus just 20 run plays over that period of time.

Cam Newton is still inexperienced and his inability to convert third down opportunities will show up in this contest.

Carolina has also lost its identity of possessing a power run game, as Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams have yet to get on track.

Pick:  Chicago Bears (-2) to have the most first downs