Free NFL Pick: Bears vs. Panthers Odds
Looking for Chicago Bears vs. Carolina Panthers Free NFL predictions? NFL betting sees the Bears taking on the Panthers on 9/13 at Bank of America Stadium, in Carolina. This free NFL football pick is based on matchup analysis and documented handicapping data tracked by CappersPicks since 2004, with a focus on identifying the strongest betting angle for this Bears Panthers matchup.
2026 NFL Handicapping – Chicago Bears vs Carolina Panthers
(11-6) Chicago Bears vs. Carolina Panthers (8-9)
Date: Sep 13, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Venue: Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC
NFL Moneyline Odds: Bears -158 | Panthers +133 (Bet Now!)
Today’s NFL Betting Odds: Bears -3 | Panthers +3
NFL Football Gambling Total: O/U: 47.5
Here’s why I’m backing a Chicago ATS bet below in my Bears Panthers free pick & gambling prediction for this matchup.
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Bears vs. Panthers Gameday
The Chicago Bears open the 2026 NFL season on the road against the Carolina Panthers in Week 1. This matchup is set for Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, with kickoff scheduled for Sunday, September 13 at 1:00 PM ET. Fans can catch the game on FOX.
Chicago enters its second season under Head Coach Ben Johnson after winning the NFC North and going 11-6 last year. Press Taylor has been promoted to Offensive Coordinator, while Dennis Allen remains in charge of the defense. The Bears also finished the preseason 2-1, closing with a 24-15 victory over the Tennessee Titans.
Chicago arrives with bigger expectations, while Carolina gets an immediate home test against the NFC North champs.
The Panthers return Head Coach Dave Canales after reaching the playoffs with an 8-9 record last season. Brad Idzik remains Offensive Coordinator, while Ejiro Evero continues running a defense that made significant progress in 2025. Bryce Young is back under center as Carolina tries to build on its first postseason appearance since 2017.
Chicago has won the last three meetings between these teams, including a 36-10 victory in 2024.
Week 1, Chicago Bears vs. Carolina Panthers, we’re all hoping a great game is in store.
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Chicago Bears vs. Carolina Panthers Odds & Last 5
The betting market gives Chicago the early edge in this Week 1 matchup. The Bears are listed at -156 on the moneyline, while Carolina comes back at +131. Chicago is laying -3 points on the road, with the total set at 47.5.
The Bears went 2-1 during the preseason, opening with a 34-10 victory against Cleveland before losing 27-9 at Cincinnati. Chicago then closed the exhibition schedule with a 24-15 road victory against Tennessee.
Carolina put together a 3-1 preseason record.
The Panthers finished their exhibition schedule with three straight victories, including a 34-17 win over Jacksonville. Carolina then edged Houston 16-13 in its preseason finale at Bank of America Stadium, giving Canales’ team some momentum heading into Week 1.
Panthers Stats From Last Season
The Carolina Panthers enter 2026 looking to build on an 8-9 season that produced an NFC South title and playoff appearance. Carolina generated 5,025 total offensive yards, including 1,977 yards on the ground.
The Panthers scored 311 points while leaning heavily on a rushing attack that provided balance throughout the season.
Bryce Young threw for 3,011 yards and set career highs with 23 touchdown passes and a 63.6% completion rate. Rico Dowdle led Carolina with 1,076 rushing yards and six touchdowns, while Chuba Hubbard added 511 yards. Rookie Tetairoa McMillan led the receiving attack with 1,014 yards.
Carolina’s defense showed improvement while allowing 5,563 total yards and 380 points. The Panthers generated 30 sacks, while Jaycee Horn led the secondary with five interceptions. Mike Jackson added four picks of his own.
The Panthers do enter Week 1 with some personnel concerns.
Taylor Moton will miss the start of the season on the reserve/non-football illness list, while Trevor Etienne is on injured reserve and eligible to return later. Ikem Ekwonu and Tershawn Wharton will also miss at least the opening four games on the reserve/PUP list, leaving Carolina without some important depth in the trenches.
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Bears Stats From Last Season
The Chicago Bears enter 2026 after an 11-6 regular season that delivered an NFC North championship and a playoff victory over Green Bay. Chicago generated 6,277 total offensive yards and finished with one of the NFL’s strongest rushing attacks.
The Bears averaged 144.5 rushing yards per game while scoring 441 points.
Caleb Williams set a franchise single-season record with 3,942 passing yards while throwing 27 touchdowns. Chicago’s offense also protected the football extremely well, finishing the regular season with an NFL-low 11 giveaways. That combination helped the Bears consistently create chances for their defense.
Chicago had more trouble preventing yardage, allowing 6,150 total yards during the regular season. The Bears countered that weakness by leading the NFL with 33 takeaways, giving Johnson’s offense additional possessions throughout the year.
That turnover production became a major part of Chicago’s success.
The Bears finished the preseason 2-1, with Tyson Bagent throwing for 208 yards and two touchdowns in the finale against Tennessee. Zavion Thomas delivered the biggest offensive play with a 97-yard touchdown reception and finished the night with 179 yards from scrimmage.
Chicago does have some depth concerns entering Week 1. Jonathan Garvin and Nephi Sewell are among the players on injured reserve, while Kyler Gordon and Noah Sewell open the season on the reserve/PUP list.
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Bears vs. Panthers QB Matchup
Bryce Young enters his fourth NFL season after producing career-best numbers across several categories in 2025. He completed 304-of-478 passes for 3,011 yards and 23 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. Young also established a career high with an 87.8 passer rating.
His late-game production became especially valuable for Carolina.
Young directed six game-winning drives last season, helping the Panthers turn several close games into victories. He also enters 2026 with continuity in Canales’ system and a 1,000-yard target in McMillan.
Caleb Williams comes off a breakout second season with the Bears. He threw for a franchise-record 3,942 yards and 27 touchdowns while helping Chicago capture the NFC North. Williams also led an offense that committed only 11 giveaways during the regular season.
Williams’ growth under Johnson was especially noticeable when games tightened late.
Chicago produced seven victories after trailing in the final two minutes across the regular season and playoffs, with Williams consistently making plays in pressure situations. He now enters Year 3 with another season in Johnson’s system and a Bears offense that finished 2025 among the NFL’s most productive groups.
Young brings home-field advantage and another year in Carolina’s offense, while Williams enters Week 1 after leading Chicago to a division title and playoff victory.
Chicago Bears vs. Carolina Panthers bottom line: Chicago brings an 11-win division champion into Charlotte, while Carolina returns much of the core that turned an 8-9 season into an NFC South title and playoff appearance.
Chicago Bears vs. Carolina Panthers Football Betting Trends
- The Bears have a strong record as favorites, winning 6 of their last 7 regular season games in 2025.
- In all regular season games last year, Chicago covered the spread in 10 out of 15 games.
- Additionally, when playing away, the Bears saw the total go over in 5 of their last 8 regular season games.
- The Panthers performed well against the spread as underdogs, covering in 8 of their last 11 regular season games in 2025.
- Also, Carolina had success after a loss, covering the spread in all 6 of their last regular season games following a defeat.
- At home, the Panthers managed to win 5 out of their last 8 regular season games.
Bears Panthers Free Pick: Bears -3
Here is my Bears Panthers free pick: Chicago -3 is my play because the Bears were one of the NFL’s better teams against the number last season. They finished 11-6 and won the NFC North.
Chicago averaged 25.9 points per game, which ranked 9th in the league. Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson now get another year together after an offense that showed it could score when games opened up.
The Bears were especially dependable when favored, going 5-2 ATS in those spots during the 2025 regular season. That’s useful with Chicago laying less than a field goal here.
Carolina deserves some respect after improving to 8-9 and winning the NFC South last year.
The Panthers also went 11-7 ATS including the playoffs, so I’m not interested in pretending this is some automatic road favorite. Small number, though.
More importantly, Carolina averaged only 18.3 points per game during the regular season, ranking 27th. Chicago doesn’t need a blowout if its offense simply performs close to last year’s level.
The Bears finished the regular season 11-6 ATS and covered 5 of 7 games as favorites. That is the profile I want laying points.
I’ll back the better offense and play the Bears -3.
Today’s NFL Free Pick
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NFL Betting Tweet Of The Day
Threads for the szn 🔥 pic.twitter.com/MU0KM1Zahz
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) September 4, 2026
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