Bears Betting Preview 2026: Futures Picks & Predictions for Chicago

Discover if the Chicago Bears can turn things around and make progress with Justin Fields leading the way as their starting quarterback following a last-place finish in the NFL last season by reading our Chicago Bears betting preview featuring odds from the top sports betting apps.

The Bears’ 2026 season didn’t go according to plan, but they got lucky in Week 18 when their ex-coach Lovie Smith and the Houston Texans pulled off a comeback win against the Indianapolis Colts, securing the Bears the first pick in the NFL Draft.

After solidifying Justin Fields as their starting quarterback, the Bears opted to trade their draft pick to the Carolina Panthers. In return, they gained valuable draft capital and a new weapon for Fields at wide receiver in D.J. Moore. Moore, who racked up 5,201 receiving yards in his first five seasons with the Panthers, is now set to make his debut with the Bears.

With a new addition to their roster and hopes for a better season than their three-win performance last year, people are wondering if the betting markets are setting unrealistic expectations for Fields and the Bears.

Take a look at our 2026 Chicago Bears betting preview, which analyzes the odds from our top NFL betting sites and rates confidence levels on a scale of 1 to 5 stars.

Chicago Bears betting preview 2026

Bears to win Under 7.5 games (+110 via Caesars) ⭐⭐⭐

Following a disappointing season with only three wins and the lowest record in the NFL, there is anticipation for the Bears to improve in Fields’ third season as starting quarterback. While there is optimism for a better performance this season, it is important to not rush into betting on the Bears’ regular-season win total without careful consideration.

The Bears’ total wins trading at 7.5 already accounts for the expectation of improvement from last season. Jumping from three to eight wins is a significant improvement. My prediction is that the Bears will win 7.5 games, in line with the totals at top sportsbooks. Based on this projection, I recommend betting on the Bears to go Under their win total of 7.5 at odds of -106.

Given that the Under bet on the Bears is available at even or plus money at all sportsbooks, there seems to be a slight advantage in placing this bet, particularly at Caesars where the highest expected value can be found. For instance, if you were to wager on the Under at FanDuel with odds of +100, your expected value would be 3%. However, opting for the +110 odds offered at Caesars would increase your expected value to 8%.

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Bears to finish 4th in NFC North (+220 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐

Based on my power ratings, I predict the Bears will finish in fourth place in the NFC North with 7.5 wins. However, the competition in the division is tight, unlike other divisions where there is a clear separation between teams.

Based on my analysis, I predict the Lions will come out on top with 9.1 wins, followed by the Packers with 8.2 wins, the Vikings with 8.1 wins, and the Bears with 7.5 wins in the NFC North. However, the standings in the division are subject to change rapidly due to injuries or unexpected outcomes throughout the season.

Based on the projections and odds, my focus is on betting that the Bears will finish in either third or fourth place in the division. However, I am particularly interested in the fourth-place finish due to the differing prices offered by DraftKings and BetMGM. DraftKings has the Bears at +220 to finish fourth, while BetMGM has them at +150 for the same outcome in the NFC North.

DraftKings is offering +220 for the Bears finishing in third place in the division, while BetMGM has slightly longer odds at +240. However, the real disparity comes when looking at the odds for a fourth-place finish, with DraftKings offering +220 compared to BetMGM’s +150. The significant difference in price for finishing in fourth place is why I am choosing to place my bet with DraftKings.

To make the playoffs: No (-180 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐

According to my power ratings and prediction of the Bears winning 7.5 games, the team futures for the Bears in this article will have closely competitive prices. This is apparent in the win total as well as the odds for the Bears to make the playoffs. Despite the slim margins, there are some outlier prices in the market that are worth capitalizing on.

Based on my prediction of the Bears winning 7.5 games, we can calculate their playoff odds at +208 and their odds of missing the playoffs at -208. These odds are in line with those offered by top sports betting sites, but DraftKings is offering a rogue -180 price which could be a good betting opportunity.

Initially, some may be hesitant to take this bet due to the relatively low expected value of 5%. However, I have a different perspective. My calculation of a -208 price for the Bears missing the playoffs, compared to other traders settling on a -210, gives me added confidence that we have an advantage over the -180 odds offered at DraftKings when placing this bet.

NFC North most regular season rushing yards: Justin Fields (+250 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐

Kudos to DraftKings for thinking outside the box with their futures markets and making them available on their sportsbook. While many fanbases want to support players from their favorite teams, not all teams have strong contenders who can realistically compete to win in these markets.

Taking a closer look at leading the division in a specific statistical category rather than the entire NFL allows for more players to be considered. This is why I am considering supporting Fields in his potential to have the most rushing yards in the NFC North. Despite being a quarterback, Fields is projected to rush for 1,009 yards this season, just 21 yards behind the projected leader, Aaron Jones, who is expected to have 1,030 rushing yards.

Upon initial inspection, one may be inclined to consider Jones, who is trading at +350 compared to Fields at +250, but I have a differing perspective on the pricing. My preference for Fields in this market, despite him being the favorite at +250, is due to his potential and opportunities. In the previous season, Fields rushed for 1,143 yards in 15 games, projecting to 1,295.4 yards if he maintained that pace. Unlike many other rushers in the division, Fields’ position and offensive role are secure as the starting quarterback for the Bears, with his running ability being a crucial aspect of his utilization in the offense.

On the other hand, several running backs in the NFC North division do not have the same level of certainty in their offensive roles. They are forced to share playing time on the field. Examples include David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit, Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon in Green Bay, and Alexander Mattison in Minnesota. While Mattison is projected to receive the majority of carries, there is no guarantee.

Jones, who is expected to outperform Fields in this market by 21 yards, faces the challenge of sharing carries with Dillon and adapting to a new offense led by Jordan Love. Additionally, at 28 years old and entering his seventh NFL season, Jones is considered mature for a running back.

Compared to other divisions in the NFL, the NFC North does not have a standout running back or any clear frontrunner for the position. Therefore, I believe that Fields, with odds of +250 at one of our top live betting sites, has a strong chance to lead the NFC North in rushing yards.

Quarterback most rushing yards regular season: Justin Fields (+160 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

We are pursuing a different Fields rushing proposition in a new market. The attractiveness of these bets is that Fields faces no direct competition in either market. While the markets share similarities, they also offer unique distinctions.

Upon analyzing the competition in this market, Lamar Jackson and Anthony Richardson emerge as the predominant threats. While Jalen Hurts, Daniel Jones, and Josh Allen are reliable runners with projected rushing yards ranging from 600 to 700, it is unlikely for them to significantly increase their rushing yards to 1,100 or 1,200 given their playing styles.

In my earlier assessment, I emphasized Fields’ secure position in the Bears’ offense as a key factor in favoring him to lead the NFC North in rushing yards. His youth and contract situation are also significant considerations. When compared to his competitors – Jackson, Hurts, Jones, and Allen – they have all received lucrative contracts to be the face of their teams. While they will still have the opportunity to run, there is a possibility that these teams may focus on safeguarding their valuable assets and investments.

Contrary to this, Fields does not fit into this group. The Bears are currently evaluating whether he has the potential to be their long-term starting quarterback, so he has a motivation to accumulate as many rushing yards as he can to demonstrate his value and earn a lucrative franchise quarterback deal.

I suggest holding off on placing a bet on Anthony Richardson until there is more information about his debut with the Indianapolis Colts. Richardson is seen as the biggest competition for Fields in this market. Similar to Fields, Richardson is a young quarterback who is likely to use his running abilities while the team evaluates his potential. Once it becomes clear that Richardson will not be starting in Week 1, it would be a good time to place a bet on Fields.

NFL betting preview

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• DraftKings Promo Code | Read our DraftKings Review

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