The Chicago Bears and the Carolina Panthers meet Sunday for their Week 1 game at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET (FOX). Let's analyze NFL odds around the Bears vs. Panthers odds and make our expert NFL picks and predictions for the best bets.
The Bears lead the all-time series 9-4, including a 36-10 win at Soldier Field in the most recent meeting in Chicago on Oct. 6, 2024. The Bears have won 4 in a row in the series, with the last win for the Panthers coming Oct. 5, 2014 (31-24). Chicago has also won 7 of the past 8 meetings and is 3-1 against the spread (ATS) in the past 4 outings. The Under is 3-1 in that span.
This is the only game in Week 1 on the Sunday schedule to feature 2 division
winners from 2025 facing each other.
Chicago heads into this game as the road favorite, one of just 4 on the Sunday schedule. The Bears are also the preseason favorites to win the NFC Central behind QB Caleb Williams. He might be without WR Rome Odunze (calf), who was limited all week and is listed as questionable.
Carolina won the NFC South last season but it is considered a long shot (+265 on FanDuel Sportsbook) to simply make the playoffs. QB Bryce Young enters his fourth season in Charlotte, with team having picked up his option for 2027 in April.
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Bears at Panthers odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Bears -165 (bet $165 to win $100) | Panthers +140 (bet $100 to win $140)
- Against the spread (ATS): Bears -3 (-118) | Panthers +3 (-102)
- Over/Under (O/U): 47 (O: -110 | U: -108)
Bears at Panthers injuries
Bears
- QB Tyson Bagent (back) questionable
- WR Rome Odunze (calf) questionable
- OL Ozzy Trapilo (knee) questionable
- DB Xavier Woods (groin) questionable
Panthers
- LB Patrick Jones II (back) out
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Bears at Panthers picks and predictions
Prediction
Bears 26, Panthers 20
Moneyline
If you're a little conservative, BEARS (-165) isn't a terrible play at a flat 3 or higher. If Chicago ends up slipping to -2.5 or fewer points, it's good practice to lay the little bit of points on a slight favorite rather than pay up for the moneyline.
Against the spread
Back BEARS -3 (-118) in this matchup of 2025 division winners.
I'd feel a little better about the Bears if Odunze wasn't on the injury report. He is a major part of their passing game, but WR Luther Burden III, TE Colston Loveland and company are still good to go.
Over/Under
UNDER 47 (-108) is the lean, so roll with a half-unit play at most.
The Bears have the potential to score in the high 20's, but, again, Odunze's health is a concern. The Bears are still a power running team with RBs D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai, and running keeps the clock moving, which Under bettors love.
For the Panthers, they're not a big-time downfield throwing team, and Young has a lot of short to intermediate pass routes, while mixing in plenty of RB Chuba Hubbard on the ground.
Betting odds calculator
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Follow Daniel Dobish on X at @danieledobish. Follow SportsbookWire on X at SportsBookWire and on Facebook.
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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: Chicago Bears at Carolina Panthers odds, picks and predictions
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