The Chicago Bears are on the cusp of an extremely impressive and rapid franchise turnaround. After selecting Caleb Williams with the first-overall pick and adding a great deal of talent around him, the organization is set to take a massive leap forward from the combined 16-35 record they have produced over the past three seasons.
Chicago enters this season with the 15th-best odds to win it all at +3500 on DraftKings Sportsbook. It is tied for the seventh-best odds to win the NFC at +1500 and is -110 to make the playoffs outright. The Bears’ season-long win total sits at 9.5 games with the under favored by -150 odds.
Bears Over 9.5 Wins (+120)
Following a 7-10 season in Matt Eberflus’ second year at the helm, the Bears are primed to take a significant step forward.
In addition to Caleb Williams being a complete difference-maker at the quarterback position, the Bears went through a near-complete roster overhaul. Keenan Allen and ninth-overall pick Rome Odunze will join DJ Moore to form one of the most impressive receiving cores in the NFL. The Bears also added D’Andre Swift at the running back position and some depth at the offensive line. Defensively, the Bears gained Kevin Byard, Jonathan Owens and made some key re-signings.
Chicago also has an excellent opportunity to take advantage of a weak schedule. Based on last year’s records, the Bears will face the third-easiest strength of schedule, as opponents combined for just a 135-154 (.467) record.
The Bears will begin their season against the Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts. They also will face the Carolina Panthers, Washington Commanders, New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings twice. While no game can be labeled a win going in, this is a great baseline for winnable opportunities for Chicago. It could take some time for them to click, but it also should be expected to be competitive in matchups such as the Los Angeles Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars, Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers.
If the Bears shape up into the team they have the potential to be, they will have no problem clearing this 9.5-game margin. While this is a fairly significant leap to take as an organization, they have the tools to make it happen, especially considering the opportunity the schedule presents. Getting this value at plus money is a great opportunity.
Caleb Williams Rookie of the Year (+135 Odds)
There is not a ton of value on the board but you likely will not get a chance to get Caleb Williams at plus money once the season starts.
Typically when top draft picks join a team there is little around them in terms of talent. The Bears have done an excellent job of building up the foundation of the team in the past few years, providing Williams the opportunity to make an impact from day one. This is especially the case with his receiving corps, which will be a top-five unit across the NFL.
Williams is also more NFL-ready than most rookie quarterbacks. His play style has been raved about by scouts and he will have the opportunity to show exactly why from day one. The combination of talent and opportunity is the key when looking at Rookie of the Year value, and Williams checks both of these boxes.
Recently, there has been a surprising push for position players to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. In the past five years, a quarterback has won the award just three times (Stroud, Herbert, K. Murray). To extend it to the past 10 years, a quarterback has only taken home the award four times.
Regardless, Williams will have every opportunity to cement himself as the surefire Rookie of the Year. Especially given the manageable schedule early on, jump on the +135 value early on and expect Williams to have a strong showing to what is expected to be an impressive NFL career.
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
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