Bears vs Packers: “Expert” Predictions from around the Web
It’s almost here. Finally!!! I feel like a little kid before Christmas morning, brimming with anticipation. Then, after all of this waiting in what has felt like the longest offseason in histry, we Bears fans have to wait all day on Sunday before we get to open our presents Sunday night. At least I’ve got my three fantasy leagues and six-month old to keep me busy until Game Time.
I’ve scoured the Web looking for previews and predictions for the Bears-Packers game Sunday night at Lambeau. Trust me, there is no shortage of “experts” willing to give you their opinion. Let’s see what we’ve got:
The bobble heads over at ESPN pick the Packers across the board. Big freaking surprise – the Bears never get any love from the Eastern Seaboard Programming Network.
In that bunch, even Accuscore picks the Packers. For those not familiar with it, Accuscore is a computer program that simulates the games thousands of times. According to this bucket of bolts, they’ve got the Packers winning 27-20. In their simulations, the Packers win 67% of the time. Doesn’t look good, does it? Who gives a crap what a computer says? What is this WarGames ?
Hey Accuscore, how about a nice game of Chess?
Sports Illustrated’s Peter King picks the Packers 23-16. This from the same guy who picked the Bears to make it to the Super Bowl? Hey Peter, pick a lane!
The trend of taking the 3.5 point favorite Packers continued at ProFootball Talk, where they have the Pack winning 38-35 in a shootout.
Hell, Sam Farmer picks the damn Packers in the Chicago Tribune! Didn’t any of these people hear the news? Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton are gone! We got Jay Cutler! Hel-lo!
Over at CBSSports, two out of their six pundits picked the Bears. Finally, a breakthrough!
I searched high and low, looked for someone – anyone – to pick the Bears. Finally, Pete Schrager at FoxSports scratched right where I was itching.
"Sunday night gameChicago at Green Bay: The last time these two squared off in Lambeau, the Pack beat the Bears, 37-3, in a game where Green Bay outgained Chicago 427-234. Of course, that was before the Bears got Jay Cutler. Winning in Lambeau at night on national TV is nearly impossible. Cutler finds a way to do it in his Chicago debut. Now, let the hate mail commence.The pick: Bears 24, Packers 23"
Then I stumbled across Mark Potash’s picks in the Sun Times. Another win for the Bears! Now we’re getting somewhere.
got to someone whose opinion I value, the guy that’s covering the Bears for The Score, Laurence Holmes.
"Prediction: Look for a big play from the Bears Special Teams to even out this game and take away the Lambeau advantage. Lovie Smith owns the Packers. He’s 7-3 against Green Bay in his career. Now he’s got Jay Cutler. I think this will be a great game…Bears 26 Packers 21."
Check out his full breakdown here. Great analysis as always! And I’m not just saying that because he picks the Bears. OK, so what if I am. Read his stuff. He’s good!
So what if most outlets pick the Packers? Good. Let ’em. It plays right into Lovie Smith’s “no one respects us” and “us against the world” philosophy. Victory will be that much sweeter!
What do I think? I already picked every game this season, but to refresh your memory, I’ve got the Bears 27-24.
BEAR DOWN!!!
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