Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

sports betting:

Vegas Play of the Day: Monday Night Football

Here’s the latest installment of the Play of the Day, which uses odds from the South Point. Our three sports writers started with a $10,000 bankroll — fictional, of course.

Chicago Bears moneyline (plus-130) at New York Jets: $400 to win $520

In this weekend’s Sun handicapping contest I took the Bears plus-2.5. Today, I’m willing to take it another step and say Chicago will come away with the straight-up win.

I’m not overly confident in Chicago, and actually I’m quite worried about the Bears both as a fan and bettor. Cornerback Charles Tillman is done for the season and possibly his career, meaning more time for other guys, including rookie Kyle Fuller. Fuller was great with two interceptions against San Francisco, but I still worry about inexperience at that position.

Then there are the lingering injuries with Bears receivers Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. Both guys were visibly affected last week, although Marshall broke through with three touchdowns. Their week-to-week status is concerning, as is the Jets’ league-leading run defense.

Those are concerns, but it’s also possible that each of those factors swing the Bears’ way. What I’m more confident in, and the main reason I’m taking Chicago straight up, is that one of these teams is going to win by at least a touchdown, so there’s more value with plus-money on the boom-or-bust side.

If Jay Cutler never gets his feet set and makes those awful falling-backward passes, then the Bears won’t keep it within 10. But if the defense can keep the Jets’ Geno Smith from running loose and the receivers play close to healthy, then the Bears might run away with it.

I think the latter is more likely and if the Bears cover, they’re going to win.

Standings: Bern (46-37-1, $12,731), Keefer (43-44, $11,061), Brewer (37-45-3, $4,625)

Taylor Bern can be reached at 948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Taylor on Twitter at twitter.com/taylorbern.

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