Seattle Seahawks at Chicago Bears 2011 NFL Playoff Predictions, Odds, and Picks: Head football coach Pete Carroll will lead the Seattle Seahawks on the road to Soldier Field to take on head football coach Lovie Smiths Chicago Bears on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET on FOX sports for the divisional round of the NFL playoffs. The Seahawks enter the game at just 8-9 following a wild card win over the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints at home while the Bears earned a bye finishing the regular season 11-5 1st in the black and blue NFC North. The Seahawks won an earlier meeting in week 6 23-20 on the road but the Bears were not at full strength. “Going into that game we fully expected (Briggs) to play and he didn’t play and that was a big deal,” quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said. “For us to sit back and say, ‘we beat them at their place we can do it again,’ that would be a dangerous way to feel because Lance Briggs did not play in that game. He is a big, big-time difference maker.” Having a week to rest and get healthy can be the difference in a close game. The odds makers at SBG Global have the Chicago Bears -10 point favorites at home against the Seattle Seahawks.
Chicago finished its regular season with a 10-3 loss to the Green Bay Packers who they could meet again with a win against the Seahawks and completed the year 9-6-1 ATS. Quarterback Jay Cutler 21 of 39 passes for just 168 yards with 2 picks and will be making his first post season appearance as the Bears quarterback. “We’re a better team, no doubt, but they are too, no doubt,” Smith said. “And both teams should be this time of the year. We had the bye week to rest up, and we’re healthy, too. As much as anything, we should get our best effort. I just want the guys to play the best game they can possibly play, and we’ll be satisfied with the results.” Lovie is too soft! Vegas odds makers have the Chicago Bears as +1100 odds to win the 2011 Super Bowl.
The Seahawks are coming off a home win 41-36 over the Saints to move on to the divisional round at Chicago and finished the regular season 7-9 ATS. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck completed 22 of 35 passes for 262 yards 4 touchdowns and a pick. Running back Marshawn Lynch carried 19 times for 131 yards including a highlight reel 67 yard touchdown rumble that put the game away in the fourth quarter. The total has gone OVER in 4 of Seattle’s last 6 games when playing on the road against Chicago. Vegas odds makers have the over/under for the total score at 42 1/2 points combined of the Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Bears.
I predict a Seahawk upset over the Bears so take the points!
Note: Rich Fritz is a Blog Writer on NSAwins.com and not a pro handicapper. For expert NFL Football Predictions against the Vegas spreads please visit the NSAwins.com homepage for top predictions today from the National Sports Advisors.