The Chicago Bears come into “Thursday Night Football” as a rare favorite, likely the last that will happen in 2023.
They host the Carolina Panthers as three-point home favorites on FanDuel Sportsbook with -120 odds.
With a combined record of 3-14, both teams are destined to be among the three worst teams in the NFL this year.
The latest installment is ripe for another snooze-fest thanks to historically bad quarterback play.
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young has looked nowhere near the level of CJ Stroud, ranking as the second-worst quarterback on Pro Football Focus, ahead of only career backup Gardner Minshew (minimum 220 dropbacks).
Bears undrafted Division II quarterback Tyson Bagent isn’t much better with the sixth-worst passing grade in the NFL on PFF, and has thrown six interceptions to only three touchdowns.
His running chops are by far his best attribute, as he’s the fourth-besting rushing quarterback according to PFF.
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Neither team is particularly appetizing to bet on, since even the favored Bears lead the NFL with 18 turnovers.
Both teams are not close to a positive turnover differential, with the Bears at -9 and the Panthers at -4 in turnover margin this season.
Bagent is struggling with both turnovers and even playing the field position game in his few starts.
He leads the NFL in interceptions per game, averaging 1.5 per game.
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This is not to say Young has been any better.
He threw three interceptions against the Colts last Sunday in a pitiful loss where he looked completely lost against an average-at-best defense.
The Panthers’ No. 1 overall pick has a worse QBR than Zach Wilson, and his 29.2 QBR is the third-worst in the NFL since 2017, ahead of only Baker Mayfield and Josh Rosen.
The over/under total is 38 points at FanDuel, a tough one to truly bet considering how poorly both quarterbacks are playing.
However, the angle best suited is to target the run defenses.
Carolina has the 32nd-ranked run defense DVOA according to FTN Fantasy, and the Bears should be able to run the ball down their throat and carry them to victory.
Grab the Bears at -3 where the field goal is still a push, otherwise, target the player prop that the Action Network’s Charlie DiSturco recommended here.
The pick: Bears -3 (-120, FanDuel Sportsbook)