The Cardinals return off of their bye week healthier, while the Bears limp into this game heading in the opposite direction. Justin Fields is hurt, Khalil Mack is on injured reserve, Akiem Hicks is hobbled, and Roquan Smith left the Bears’ Thanksgiving game with a hamstring issue. Let’s take a look at the Arizona Cardinals vs. Chicago Bears Week 13 matchup, the NFL odds, and make a pick and prediction.
Arizona Cardinals vs. Chicago Bears pick, prediction | Week 13
- Spread: Cardinals -7.5 (Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook)
- Moneyline: Cardinals -350, Bears +270
- Over/Under: 46
The Cardinals got their bye week at the perfect time. They did a fairly heroic job to get to the bye still 9-2 after star QB Kyler Murray and his best receiver DeAndre Hopkins both missed multiple games. Now reenergized, well-rested, and a bit healthier, they can focus on the remaining games of the season. Ideally, Arizona can close out the NFC West with a game to spare and rest their starters before the playoffs.
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The Cardinals have a tough run, with games against the Rams, Colts, and Cowboys still on the schedule. A win this week against the depleted Bears will be essential to their campaign.
As for the Bears, they’re missing a lot of their cornerstone pieces, particularly on defense. If Smith cannot get back in time, it’s going to be a long afternoon against a powerful Cardinals offense. James Conner has run the ball especially well as of late. He’s found the end zone 8 times in his last five outings and has 13 total TDs on the season. If Chicago is without Smith (arguably their best run defender), they will have a mismatch to deal with in the running game.
Cardinals vs. Bears betting trends
Chicago is 4-7 against the spread (ATS) this season and has lost five of their last six, including failing to cover with a 12.5-point boost against the Bucs or as -2.5 favorites against the Lions. The Bears have only covered the over on three occasions this season and don’t often get involved in shootouts.
The Cardinals are 8-3 ATS, but only 2-2 in their last four games. But you need to look at their record prior to the last month to get the best idea of their capabilities.
They’ve been banged up, and they faced two division rivals (Seahawks and Niners) as well as the Packers over the course of their last four games. Prior to that run, the Cardinals were 6-1 ATS, and that’s the version of them I expect to see following their bye week.
Despite their firepower and explosive offense, the Cards are only 5-6 covering the over. The offense can put up 30 points pretty much every week. The defense sometimes holds, sometimes they allow 20+ points of their own, making it difficult to side with them either way on over/unders. That said, Chicago’s offensive performance makes me favor the under. Andy Dalton and the Bears will come out slow and struggle with the speed and fluidity of the Cardinals’ defense.
Cardinals vs. Bears prediction
Offensively, the Bears are capable with Dalton, but they lack a true red-zone threat. They were held to only 16 points against the Lions on Thanksgiving. The Cardinals’ defense can contain the run and slow down the passing game. Combine the injury differences between these two sides and the contrast in offensive firepower, and I think this one might get away from the Bears in a hurry.
I like the Cardinals to take this one in a landslide. Those key components on the Bears’ defense will be sorely missed. The Cardinals win and cover, and a slow performance by the Bears’ offense means I also love the under in this one.
Cardinals vs. Bears Prediction: Cardinals 31, Bears 10