Superbowl 46 Betting Online – 2011 Bears Season Preview
It appears that Chicago has become the Rodney Dangerfield of the NFL, getting no respect from the odds makers. Despite winning the NFC North last season with a record of 11-5 and beating Seattle 35-24 in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, the betting public has scoffed at the idea that it can even make it back to the postseason in 2011.
NFL 2011 Team Preview and Odds- Chicago Bears
Odds to win the NFC North +450
Odds to win the NFC 14/1
Odds to win the Super Bowl 28/1
Win Total 8.5
The odds for the Bears to repeat as division champions are just slightly better than Detroit’s, which won just six games last season.
Having Green Bay in your division does not help, but much of this pessimism surrounding their chances this season also has to do with the inconsistent play of their quarterback Jay Cutler. You are just never really sure what kind of effort you are going to get out of the guy from one week to the next. 
His play in 2010 was head and shoulders above his debut with Chicago in 2009, but he still does not instill a true sense of confidence that he can get this team back to the Super Bowl anytime in the near future.
The Bears were active once free agency opened up by signing WR Roy Williams and RB Marion Barber, who were both released by the Cowboys as well as C Chris Spencer, who started 16 games for the Seahawks last season. They also beefed-up their offensive line with the selection of OL Gabe Carimi in the first round of the draft.
Defensively, Chicago finished the 2010 season ranked ninth overall and fourth in points allowed. It was ranked second against the run, giving up an average of just 90.1 yards a game, but was ranked 20th against the pass. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
To try and add some depth to the roster, the Bears took DT Stephen Paea in the second round and DB Chris Conte in the third round on the draft.
They also signed DE Vernon Gholston as a free agent from the Jets. One early injury concern is the loss of DE Corey Wootten for at least four weeks after hurting his knee against Buffalo in the first preseason game.
A play on the ‘over’ for this team’s 8.5 win total seems like a no-brainer given the talent that remains from last season’s 11-win team, but the Bears have a history of up and down seasons.
They last had back-to-back winning seasons in 2005-2006 which was the first time since 1995 they were able to accomplish this.
2011 Prediction: 7-9 and third in the NFC North
With NFL Training camps already starting Cappers Picks NFL Football handicappers have been hard at work putting out the team by team Football Predictions and NFL Season Previews for those of us who can’t wait.
Bet on the Super Bowl XLVI winner, plus 2011 Conference and Divisional winners today.
