Bears vs Cardinals NFL Week 3 Odds & Expert Preview

Bears vs Cardinals NFL Week 3 Odds & Expert Preview

Written by on September 21, 2018

If the Arizona Cardinals want to beat the Chicago Bears to pick up their first win of the season veteran quarterback Sam Bradford is going to have to avoid the one-man gang that is superstar linebacker Khalil Mack. If he can’t, the Cards will almost assuredly have no chance to win and cash in as a home underdog.

If you’re ready to find out where the best NFL betting value is in this matchup, then let’s find out right now.

Bears vs Cardinals NFL Week 3 Odds & Expert Preview

When: Sunday, September 23, 2018 at 4:25 PM ET Where: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona TV: FOX Radio: Chicago / Arizona Live Stream: NFL Live NFL Week 3 Odds: Chicago -5.5 Total: 38

Weather Forecast

  • Clear: 37°C/98°
  • Humidity: 17%
  • Precipitation: 0%
  • Wind: 6 mph S
  • Cloud Cover: 19%
  • Type of Stadium: Retractable

Why Bet On the Chicago Bears?

Why should you bet on the Bears in Week 2? Because they’ve looked really good since the start of the season and they’ve got a game-changing superstar in linebacker Khalil Mack. Chicago responded nicely after suffering a heartbreaking 24-23 season-opening road loss against Green Bay to beat Seattle 24-17 on Sunday. Like his performance in week 1, Khalil Mack was almost literally everywhere. Mack had an exciting strip sack on Russell Wilson which was one of six sacks on Seattle’s star quarterback.

“That’s a great feeling,” Mack said. “We took it over the top.”

Chicago kept Seattle off the scoreboard in the first and third quarters and gave up just a field goal through four quarters to help head coach Matt Nagy get his first career win.

“I’m just really looking forward to the future of this team and seeing how we respond not only to tough losses like Green Bay, but how do we respond to a good win for us,” said Nagy, who replaced the fired John Fox. “Sometimes those are just as hard.”

Team Statistics

Offense:
  • Average Score For: 23.50
  • Total Yards: 282.50
  • Pass Yards: 170
  • Rush Yards: 112.50
Defense:
  • Average Score Against: 20.50
  • Total Yards: 323
  • Pass Yards: 251.50
  • Rush Yards: 71.50

Why Bet On the Arizona Cardinals?

Are the Cardinals a safe bet for NFL Week 3?

Why should you bet on the Cardinals in Week 3? Because they’re desperate and playing at home, that’s why. Arizona has looked pretty awful through two games this season under first-time head coach Steve Wilks. The Cardinals didn’t put up much of a fight in their 24-6 Week 1 loss to Washington and they never had a chance in their 34-0 shutout loss against the Rams on Sunday. Sam Bradford completed 17 of 27 passes for a pitiful 90 yards with one interception and no touchdowns.

“When you look at the game it’s a little deja vu from last week,” Arizona coach Steve Wilks said. “We just couldn’t find ourselves making a play. A lot of things that we need to address moving forward across the board, personnel, everything, scheme, and we’ll look to do that as we get back on Monday.”

Team Statistics

Offense:
  • Average Score For: 3
  • Total Yards:
  • Pass Yards: 114
  • Rush Yards: 61
Defense:
  • Average Score Against: 29
  • Total Yards:
  • Pass Yards: 294.50
  • Rush Yards: 136

Latest NFL Betting Trends

  • Chicago is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 games
  • Chicago is 3-8 SU in the last 11 games
  • The total went UNDER in 4 of Chicago’s last 5 games
  • Arizona is 6-11-1 ATS in the last 18 games
  • Arizona is 2-4 SU in the last 6 games when playing Chicago
  • The total went UNDER in 5 of Arizona’s last 6 games

Expert Analysis and Prediction

Look, it’s crystal clear to me that Sam Bradford needs to be benched and that head coach Steve Wilks needs to place the future of his franchise in the hands of rookie Josh Rosen, the former UCLA star that was actually deemed the most NFL-ready quarterback in this year’s draft.

The Bears are 4-0 ATS in their last four games and 5-2 ATS in their last seven games against a team with a losing road record. Arizona is 4-9-1 ATS in their last 14 games against their NFC counterparts, 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games in Week 3 and 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games in the month of September. Chicago wins and covers the chalk.

NFL Week 3 Pick: Bears 27 Cardinals 17