A pair of teams involved in the trade for last season’s top draft pick are again vying for the first overall selection in 2024 and will test their mettle against one another on Thursday night. The Chicago Bears face the Carolina Panthers and the player they selected with the draft choice acquired in that offseason trade, Bryce Young. Chicago is favored by four points in what is tracking to be their fourth full game without Justin Fields due to a thumb injury suffered against Minnesota.
Carolina is 0-4 straight up and ATS on the road this season, losing by an average margin of 15.8 points per game and not covering the spread by nearly eight points per. They’ve been outscored by 10.8 points per game overall.
Chicago will be a home favorite for the second time this year and were beaten soundly by the Packers in Week 1 by 18 points in the first instance. They are 1-2 straight up and 2-1 ATS with Tyson Bagent starting at quarterback since October 22.
Last week’s best bet card went 3-0 with a promo play included during the Steelers' win against Tennessee in Pittsburgh. The Titans’ Will Levis threw for 262 yards to soar past his total, and Diontae Johnson caught seven of his nine targets to cash that over as well.
The Derrick Henry promo play was essentially a foregone conclusion, and thanks to Underdog Fantasy, we got a 6x payout on the parlay of those three picks. We look to cash in again in Week 10 and have another batch of best bets for tomorrow’s matchup on TNF.
Adam Thielen OVER 69.5 Receiving Yards
Thielen’s change of scenery this season has been difficult on the scoreboard but couldn’t have turned out better for his production. The 10-year veteran is on pace for a career-high 162 targets and 132 catches through eight contests while putting up 76 yards per game as Young’s favorite receiver.
The Bears allow the third-most yards per pass attempt in the NFL this season and have given up 20 touchdown passes in nine games, the most in the league. After a dud game for Thielen against Indy, we expect him to bounce back in Week 10.
He’s caught 35 passes for 379 yards and three TDs in four road appearances this year. Let's ride that trend and play the Over!
Jaquan Brisker OVER 6.0 Tackles and Assists
Brisker missed Chicago’s last two games while in concussion protocol but has been cleared to return to the field this week. The second-year safety from Penn State has averaged 6.4 total tackles per game and has been at or over six tackles in five of seven appearances.
Brisker talked this week to the Chicago Tribune about being excited to pair up with fellow safety Eddie Jackson again to fly around the defensive backfield.
Being healthy, we like his chances to reach 7+ total tackles with that mindset on Thursday night.
Bryce Young OVER 0.5 Total Yards (Featured on Underdog)
Underdog is the gift that keeps on giving. Young will have a chance to take advantage of a soft Bears’ pass defense and needs to essentially play one series for this promo to hit.
We will toss it into our Underdog parlay for TNF and see if we can go 3-0 again for the big payout.
