NFL Week 9: Bears vs. Titans odds, preview and pick

Both the Chicago Bears (5-3) and Tennessee Titans (5-2) are looking to shake off two-game losing streaks at Nissan Stadium on Sunday afternoon (1:00 p.m., FOX), but only one club can emerge victorious. We’ll go looking for a winner, as well as the best bet on the board, in this game preview.

From NFC North leaders to also-rans for Bears?

Two weeks ago, the Bears were 5-1 and leading the NFC North. Now they’ve hit a brutal part of their schedule and have failed to step up.

Chicago was soundly defeated by the Rams in Week 7 before giving away a winnable game to the Saints last week. After Sunday’s tilt in Tennessee, the Bears will play three straight games in the "Black and Blue" division, where there are no pushovers.

Can Chicago’s offense put up points?

The Titans’ stoppers are far from elite, ranking 18th in points allowed per game this season (26.3), but the Bears’ offense is one of the worst in the NFL.

Whether it’s Nick Foles or Mitchell Trubisky under center, Chicago simply lacks the weapons to exploit opposing stoppers on a regular basis. As a result, the Bears are 28th in points per game heading into Week 9 (20.1).

Making matters worse is that Chicago’s offensive line is in shambles heading into this contest. Only left tackle Charles Leno was able to practice on Wednesday. Tight end Jimmy Graham (knee/hamstring) was also held out of Wednesday’s practice.

Tennessee’s offense meets intimidating Chicago stoppers

Strength meets strength as the Titans’ sixth-rated scoring offense (29.7 points per game) squares off with the Bears’ eighth-ranked scoring defense (20.8 points allowed per game).

It will be interesting to see how Tennessee tailback Derrick Henry fares against stalwart Chicago linebackers Khalil Mack and Roquan Smith. The Alabama product has eight touchdowns over his last five games, but the Bears’ defense has surrendered only six rushing touchdowns all season.

Trends say take the Under

Neither club looks like a great spread wager in this contest. Tennessee has covered in just one of its last six games as the betting favorite and is 8-17-1 against the spread in its last 26 home games against teams with winning road records. Chicago is 3-7 in its last 10 games against the spread when facing teams with winning records and has covered in only one of its last seven games following a spread victory.

The Under, however, is 6-2 in the Titans’ last eight games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous tilt, and 11-3 in the Bears’ last 14 games as a road underdog.

Predicted score: Titans 23, Bears 20

NFL pick: Under

Wager on all NFL Week 9 action now at BetAmerica.