Not many online NFL betting experts would have expected the Chicago Bears and the Indianapolis Colts to arrive at their week 5 showdown with the same win-loss record, but stranger things have happened – like Andrew Luck being the highest-paid player in the league. Here are the football betting site odds for the game on Sunday, October 9th at Lucas Oil Stadium:
Bears +4½ (-110) 48 (-110)
Colts -4½ (-110) 48 (-110)
The Bears got their first W of the season after defeating the Detroit Lions 17-14. Chicago has started 1-3 in two straight years with head coach John Fox. Backup QB Brian Hoyer went 28 of 36 for 302 yards with one TD pass to wide receiver Eddie Royal, and another to tight end Zach Miller. Royal had seven interceptions for 111 yards, while rookie running back Jordan Howard rushed for a career-high 111 yards.
The Bears were ahead 17-6 when Andre Roberts returned a punt 85 yards for a score. Golden Tate then caught a 2-point conversion pass from Detroit QB Matthew Stafford to cut it to 17-14 with 1:52 remaining, but Chicago recovered the onside kick.
When Colts head coach Chuck Pagano was asked at the airport if he had anything to declare, he did his best Dennis Farina and said, “Yeah. Don’t go to England.” Indy lost to the Jaguars 27-30 at Wembley Stadium in London. Indy kept dropping the ball – literally – on offense, and as NFL.com put it, “another costly Luck interception” led to the Jags opening score. Oh, NFL.com; at $140 million, every single thing Andrew Luck does is costly.
On defense, pass interference and unnecessary roughness penalties made the Jaguars’ job that much easier. Lest British online NFL betting fans think the Colts were jet-lagged, they play just as badly in the USA.
The Colts are in the midst of their worst season start since 2011, when their first came in week 15. While things are nowhere near as bad yet, Indy does desperately need a win to keep from falling apart. The problem with the Colts is that they don’t protect their investment; according to Football Outsiders, Luck has been sacked 15 times and pressure on 21 percent of Indy’s passing plays.
Hey, “don’t push your luck” is one thing, but no one ever said anything about not pushing someone else’s Luck. If their QB had a chance to attain some consistency, then you might start getting some bang for your Luck.
As for da Bears, Jay Cutler’s sprained thumb could very well have been a blessing in disguise. Chicago is 1-1 with Hoyer, who has thrown 67 of 97 (69.1%) for 697 yards with four TD pass and no interceptions. Head coach Fox is mum on whether he will give Hoyer the starting job on a permanent basis, or if Cutler will return once he is healthy – and this obviously can sway online NFL betting odds. The last time these teams met in 2012, the Bears won 41-21. This year the score may not be as high, but could the outcome be the same?