Chicago Bears vs San Francisco 49ers Prediction: The 49ers to get first league win

Regular season game one between the San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears is expected to begin at 20:00 on Sunday, September 11, at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. The previous season, San Francisco's record was 10-7, and they finished in last place in the AFC West at 2-4. After playing in just six games as a rookie, Trey Lance now takes over as the team's starting quarterback. With two playoff berths and a trip to the Super Bowl under his belt, Kyle Shanahan is ready to enter his sixth season as the head coach of the 49ers. By contrast, the Chicago Bears concluded the 2021 season with a 6-11 record and a 2-4 mark in the NFC North. In his second year in the NFL, Justin Fields will start as the team's quarterback. Last year, he only had seven passing touchdowns and a QB rating of 73.2.

Chicago Bears - Underdog Bears to upset 49ers at home

In 2021, the Bears finished with a record of 6-11 overall and 2-4 in the NFC North. A new chapter of Chicago's history begins. The Bears have the worst odds in the NFC North and the most extended chances in the NFL to win the Super Bowl. They also have the longest odds of winning the division. With such a weak supporting cast, second-year quarterback Justin Fields will have difficulty guiding this team to the postseason. Following their 21-20 victory over the Cleveland Browns, the Bears ended the preseason with a perfect record. Fields threw for 156 yards and three touchdowns in the first half while completing 14 of 16 passes. Overall, they had a completion percentage of 75%. We do not expect them to do much in this match, but the underdog could turn things around at home with the support of their fans.

San Francisco 49ers - Place stake on the 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers are about to enter a new era at quarterback with the arrival of Trey Lance, the third overall pick in last year's draft. Expectations for the 49ers are high, and they have the second-best odds to win the NFC West, behind only the Los Angeles Rams, who are the defending champions. After a 17-0 loss to the Houston Texans in their last preseason game, San Francisco ended the year with a 2-1 record. On three separate occasions, Lance led unsuccessful offensive drives. With a total of 6,387 yards in the bank from the previous season, the 49ers were a formidable opponent. They had 199 1st downs as a team and 1066 yards in penalties. The 49ers scored 26 times in the air and 22 on the ground. When facing a passing offense, they allowed 206.5 yards per game and a 68.3 percent completion rate throughout 17 games. They allowed 310.0 passing yards per game, good for third worst in the NFL. They gave up 17 rushing scores and 25 passing touchdowns. In the previous campaign, opponents averaged 4.0 yards per carrying while totaling 103.5 yards on the ground in each game. They gave up 1,760 yards on the ground to opposing teams for 17 games last season. Regarding allowing opponents to score, the 49ers ranked ninth in the league, allowing 21.5 points per game. The 49ers have everything necessary to put on a winning show for their fans this weekend.

Expert Betting Tips

The 49ers hold a 35-32 advantage in the series history, including a 3-0 advantage in the playoffs. In the last nine matchups between these two teams since 2006, the 49ers have won 5 outright against the spread. Five of the last nine encounters have also gone Over. When the teams met in Week 8 with Fields starting for the Bears, San Francisco won 33-22 on the road and covered the spread. Nonetheless, 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo was in action for his team. If we compare the predicted victory totals of the 49ers (10) and Bears (6), it's clear that the former is the superior team at the moment. It seems reasonable to bet on the 49ers to win by a touchdown and cover the spread. This spread will need to be covered by a solid defensive performance. The 49ers' defense ranks among the best in the league, so they should be able to slow down Fields and the Bears' attack.

• Team 2 First Time out for 1.87
• Over 40 for 1.70
• Total 2 Over 24 for 1.83