Mere weeks remain before the start of Super Bowl LX. Still, there’s plenty to settle on the field between now and then. To cap off the Divisional Round, NFL fans will be treated to a high-stakes matchup at Soldier Field. The second-seeded Bears needed another miraculous comeback last Saturday to defeat the rival Packers. The Rams took care of business earlier that day on the road in Carolina. Now, these two title contenders will meet with a trip to the NFC Championship hanging in the balance.
Before the start of Sunday’s showdown, let’s break down what picks and player props the public is backing tonight. The Rams enter this contest as 4.5-point favorites (-102) over the Bears on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the over/under set at 48.5 points. Los Angeles is favored at -198 on the moneyline.
Betting Splits
Game after game, the Bears continue to defy expectations. Last weekend’s 18-point comeback vs. Green Bay was yet another reason to never count this group out. Keeping that in mind, it’s not a huge shock to see the public tailing Caleb Williams and company. 70% of the handle has surged towards Chicago as +164 home underdogs. However, LA has a slight edge in terms of total bets, garnering 51% of the action.
The spread is even more in favor of the NFC North champions. Chicago has accounted for 62% of bets on the handle and 63% of total bets. It’s rare for a 5th-seeded team to command a 4.5-point advantage on the spread. Still, the Rams are a 12-win juggernaut, led by MVP candidate Matthew Stafford. An inconsistent Bears defense will face quite the challenge on Sunday. Chicago is 2-0-0 against the spread this season as a home underdog. In comparison, the Rams are 4-3-0 ATS as away favorites.
Uncertainty is the best way to describe the action going towards the total. 55% of all bets are expecting more than 48.5 points in this one. On the flip side, 58% of the handle is leaning towards the under. Los Angeles scored an NFL-best 30.5 points per game during the regular season; Chicago ranked ninth (25.9 PPG). The Rams were tenth in points against (20.4 PPG), while the Bears were 23rd (24.4 PPG).
Most Popular Player Props
Here are the top five most-bet player props for tonight’s game:
- Puka Nacua anytime touchdown scorer (-115)
- Colston Loveland anytime touchdown scorer (+200)
- Davante Adams anytime touchdown scorer (-120)
- Kyren Williams anytime touchdown scorer (+120)
- D’Andre Swift anytime touchdown scorer (+145)
To the surprise of absolutely no one, Puka Nacua is a sought-after name this week. The third-year pro has established himself as arguably the NFL’s premier wide receiver. It helps when you’re catching passes from an All-Pro quarterback, as well. During the regular season, Nacua hauled in a league-leading 129 catches for 1,715 yards and ten touchdowns. Last Saturday vs. the Panthers, he managed to reach the end zone as well.
That’s not to say Nacua is the only player worth mentioning for the Rams. WR2 Davante Adams slots in as the third-most popular prop bet for this contest. The six-time Pro Bowler has been a seamless fit in LA since joining the team this offseason. Over 14 games, he’s recorded an NFL-best 14 receiving touchdowns. Against Carolina, he was peppered with a season-high 13 targets. However, he only managed to catch five passes. It helps that Adams, a former Packers standout, has plenty of experience playing at Soldier Field.
For the Bears, Colston Loveland has come on strong over the last month. Through five games since Week 14, the tight end has snagged 27 catches for 307 yards and three touchdowns. That’s not even counting his eight-catch, 137-yard performance last week vs. Green Bay. Several Chicago wideouts are dealing with injuries, potentially leading to more targets for the rookie vs. LA. Another player generating plenty of wagers is D’Andre Swift. As RB1 for the Bears, he’s gained 1,087 rushing yards and nine total touchdowns over 16 games this season. However, the Rams have allowed just seven rushing touchdowns this season, third-fewest in the NFL.
