Our NFL betting expert brings you his best 49ers vs. Bears predictions and picks for their NFL Week 1 showdown, which is live Sunday on Fox at 1 EST.
The Bears begin the coach Matt Eberflus era while the 49ers take a gamble to capitalize on the coach Kyle Shanahan era, starting second-year quarterback Trey Lance in place of veteran Jimmy Garoppolo.
49ers vs. Bears picks
- 49ers to cover spread -7 (-110) via Caesars
- Under 40.5 points to be scored, @ – 110 via Caesars
- Trey Lance longest completion over 35.5 yards, @-115 via Caesars
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49ers vs. Bears predictions and analysis
San Francisco aims for its third win in the past four meetings with the Chicago, and to snap a 32-32-1 tie in the all-time series.
The visiting 49ers prevailed 33-22 when the teams met in Week 8 of last season. Elijah Mitchell rushed for a career-best 137 yards and a touchdown, while Deebo Samuel had 171 yards receiving.
49ers -7
Even with a change at quarterback — which ultimately may shuffle back to Jimmy G, who knows? — the 49ers enter the season as a contender for the NFC title.
Chicago is not quite in that stratosphere yet, but figures to tread water with quarterback Justin Fields and running back David Montgomery, the team leader in scrimmage yards last season.
A new Bears regime on the sidelines and front office (hello, GM Ryan Poles) encounters plenty of on-field questions, too, including those on the offensive line and at wide receiver.
The Niners may have sizable curiosity under center, but are solid most everywhere else.
Pick: 49ers to cover spread -7, @ -110 via Caesars
Bears vs. 49ers under 40.5
The Bears averaged 18.3 points a game last season, nearly a touchdown less than the 49ers, but Fields — as with Lance, a second-year player — showed plenty of preseason poise in new coordinator Luke Getsy’s system.
Still, the 49ers boast one of the more talented defenses in the league. Fred Warner had a career-high 137 tackles in 2021, and defensive back Charvarius Ward is making his team debut.
Meanwhile, both teams return players with a penchant for getting to the passer. Chicago’s Robert Quinn led the NFC with 18.5 sacks last season, while San Francisco’s Nick Bosa (15.5) wasn’t far off the pace.
Our Pick: Under 40.5 points to be scored, @ – 110 via Caesars
Trey Lance longest completion over 35.5 yards
Lance is a veteran of a mere 71 NFL passes, not yet throwing more than 29 in a game. Although Mitchell and Samuel figure to get their share of touches on the ground, the Niners won’t merely relegate Lance to handoff duty; they looked his direction over Garropolo’s for a reason.
With Chicago in flux on defense, where Eberflus has installed a 4-3 scheme, the combination of new personnel and less-than-familiar Xs and Os, coupled with Lance’s athleticism, makes us like him as a lock for at least one long bomb.
Our Pick: Trey Lance longest completion over 35.5 yards, @-115 via Caesars
49ers vs. Bears odds
Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook, subject to change.
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total Points 40.5 |
| 49ers | (-7) -110 | -300 | Over -110 |
| Bears | (+7) -110 | +240 | Under -104 |