Bears vs. Titans: NFL preseason betting odds, preview, and pick
Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) warms up before a game. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire)
August 24th, 2021
The Chicago Bears were humbled during Week 2 of the NFL preseason when they were crushed at home by the Buffalo Bills. Can they get back on track this Saturday when they travel to Tennessee to take on the Titans?
Let’s take a closer look at the betting odds and top storylines.
The Bears have a Quarterback Controversy
The Bears’ starting quarterback is veteran Andy Dalton. After spending most of his career in Cincinnati followed by a stop in Dallas, the 10-year pro fully expects to line up under center when the 2021-22 season begins. He has a career 62.2% completion percentage to go along with 33,763 passing yards and 218 passing touchdowns. Dalton still has competitive fire and ability, and gives the Bears an improved chance to win.
All of that said, the Bears drafted Justin Fields with their first round pick this year, and he is expected to be the future of the franchise. The question on everyone’s mind is how near that future is.
Hear us out.... maybe Justin Fields should start....pic.twitter.com/c2zUntlPYS
— Bears Talk (@NBCSBears) August 21, 2021
In Week 2, Dalton went 11-for-17 for 146 yards and a touchdown. Fields also saw playing time, and went 9-for-19 for 80 yards. While it is obvious who the better passer is, Fields also added four carries for 46 yards, sparking the imagination of fans everywhere.
With this being the final preseason game before a high-pressure season kicks off in Chicago, look for both quarterbacks to be at their best showing why they feel they deserve to be the Bears' QB1.
Vrabel Out with COVID-19
After testing positive for COVID-19, Titans head coach Mike Vrabel will miss this game.
Titans' Mike Vrabel tests positive for COVID-19 https://t.co/kItJVKvAO9 pic.twitter.com/eWk4OOqcDb
— New York Post (@nypost) August 22, 2021
While it is certainly good that his absence comes during a preseason game and not a postseason one, it will probably derail the momentum the Titans had following their impressive 57-6 combined dismantling of the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Bucs through the first two weeks.
Bears vs. Titans Injury Report
| Chicago Bears | Tennessee Titans |
|---|
OT Teven Jenkins: Out (back) | OT Paul Adams: Questionable (wrist) |
WR Javon Wims: Questionable (oblique) | WR Julio Jones: Questionable (undisclosed) |
DT Bilal Nichols: Questionable (toe) | WR A.J. Brown: Questionable (knee) |
CB Teez Tabor: Questionable (thigh) | DT Anthony Rush: Out (COVID-19) |
TE Cole Kmet: Questionable (hamstring) | RB Darrynton Evans: Questionable (leg) |
Bears and Titans Trends
- The Bears are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games at Tennessee
- The Bears are 4-1 straight-up in their last five Saturday games
- Eight of the last 11 Titans games have gone Over the projected total
- Eight of the last 12 games between the Bears and Titans have gone Over the projected total
- The Titans are 4-8 ATS in their last 12 games played in August
Expect the Bears to bounce back
The Bears have two solid quarterback options that are in competition to prove why they are the better option for their team. The Titans, on the other hand, know exactly who their starting quarterback is and should look to protect him while further developing unproven options like Logan Woodside and Matt Barkley.
With Vrabel missing, and the Bears grasping for signs of success following their 41-15 defeat to the Bills, I expect a dominant Bears effort in their final preseason contest.
Score prediction: Bears 23, Titans 13,
NFL Preseason Pick: Bears -1.5
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