Seattle Seahawks vs. Chicago Bears: Spread Info, Line and Predictions

The Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Bears are both nursing playoff chances coming into this Week 15 matchup.

Chicago is in much better position record-wise than the Seahawks, but they're also missing their two best players.

Seattle is an up-and-down, roller-coaster team you can never count on. That said, it's still alive in the playoff hunt.

Expect a sloppy, defense-first game but it will be worth watching.

Where: Soldier Field; Chicago

When: Sunday, Dec. 18 at 1 p.m. EST

Watch: FOX, DirecTV 708

Spread: Bears -3.5

This three-and-a-half-point spread is courtesy of home-field advantage and the Bears defense. The problem here is that Chicago struggles to score points. If it falls behind for any reason it will be hard-pressed to get back into it.

I wouldn't touch either team in this game.

Over/Under: 35.5

This is a conservative number, but a reasonable one at that. A 20-14 game won't get the job done and that looks like the type of score this game will be.

The Bears' best chance at scoring points comes from the defense and special teams, and Seattle is going to used a heavy dose of Marshawn Lynch to avoid mistakes.

If anything you'd want to go under, but I'd avoid this number, too.

Key Injuries

Seahawks 

Doug Baldwin, WR: Questionable (Knee)

Bears

Jay Cutler, QB: Out (Thumb)

Matt Forte, RB: Out (Knee)

Fantasy Big Plays

Start 'Em: Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seahawks 

The Seattle running back has gone for more than 100 yards in five of his last six games and scored a touchdown in each of his last nine games.

Sit 'Em: Marion Barber, RB, Bears

Not after last week.

Sleeper: Golden Tate, WR, Seahawks

If Doug Baldwin doesn't play, he could become a factor again.

Keys to Seahawks Win

Avoid kicking to Devin Hester.

This is a lot easier said than done, but the Bears' best chance at winning this game is using their defense to earn good field position, kick field goals and avoid putting the ball in Caleb Hanie's hands as much as possible.

Thus, Seattle can win this game if it can establish a run game, keep Tarvaris Jackson from turning the ball over and avoid kicking to Devin Hester.

Keys to Bears Win

Force turnovers and stop Marshawn Lynch.

This is also easier said than done because Lynch has been absolute monster of late, scoring touchdowns in nine straight games and being a weapon as rusher and a pass catcher.

The Bears need to keep this game close and not put too much pressure on Hanie or this game could get out of hand. Seattle can be an opportunistic team and has the tendency to overachieve at times (i.e. Giants and Ravens games).

Chicago must dominate this game from the line of scrimmage and play turnover-free football.

Prediction: Seahawks 17, Bears 10