Game of the Day: Bears at 49ers
Chicago Bears at San Francisco 49ers (-7, 48)
Reports of the demise of the San Francisco 49ers' defense appear to be more than slightly exaggerated after the unit registered four turnovers in an easy season-opening victory over Dallas. The 49ers face another high-powered offense when they host the Chicago Bears on Sunday night in the first game at Levi's Stadium. "Everyone that's been talking about our defense, about how we won't be as good and what not, I don't get caught up in all that," Pro Bowl linebacker Patrick Willis said.
While the 49ers picked off three first-half passes en route to an early knockout of the Cowboys, a pair of interceptions also proved to be costly for the Bears, leading to 10 points in an eventual 23-20 overtime defeat to visiting Buffalo. "Obviously we made mistakes today and we've got to clean them up and got to keep it going," Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler said after throwing for 349 yards and a pair of scores. It will mark the first matchup between the teams since San Francisco drubbed the visiting Bears 32-7 in November 2012.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC. LINE: 49ers -7. O/U: 48.5
LINE HISTORY: After opening at 49ers -7, the line briefly dropped to -6.5 before moving back to -7 where it currently sits. The total has opened at 48 and has yet to move.
INJURY REPORT: Bears: WR Brandon Marshall (Ques-Ankle), G Matt Slauson (Ques-Ankle), WR Ashlon Jeffery (Ques-Hamstring) 49ers: T Anthony Davis (Ques-Hamstring), S Jimmie Ward (Ques-Concussion), CB Chris Culliver (Ques-Concussion)
COVERS POWER RANKINGS: Bears (+1.5) + 49ers (-6.5) + Home Field (-3) = 49ers (-11)
WEATHER REPORT: Currently a zero percent chance of clouds or rain, but wind could be a factor with gusts up to nine mph.
WHAT CAPPERS SAY: "Chicago lost its home opener for the first time since 2008 and it has not started a season 0-2 since 2003. The Bears travel to San Francisco Sunday night on a 0-11 ATS run following a non-conference game. San Francisco is back home after five straight road games going back to last regular season. 5-1 ATS in their last 8 against losing teams." Covers Expert Matt Fargo
ABOUT THE BEARS (0-1 SU, 0-1 ATS, 0-1 O/U): Chicago has some major injury concerns with starting wide receivers Brandon Marshall (ankle) and Alshon Jeffrey (hamstring) sitting out practice against Thursday, although Marshall said: "I'll be out there Sunday." The duo each had 71 yards receiving last week following a stellar 2013 campaign in which Marshall had 100 catches and 12 touchdowns and Jeffrey added 89 receptions and 1,421 yards receiving. That could force the Bears to rely even more on running back Matt Forte, who rushed for 82 yards on 17 carries and matched Marshall's total of eight catches for 87 yards against the Bills. Chicago's defense, a sieve for much of last season, limited Buffalo to 15 first downs but gave up 193 yards on the ground.
ABOUT THE 49ERS (1-0 SU, 1-0 ATS, 0-1 O/U): Colin Kaepernick, who made his first career start in the lopsided victory over Chicago two years ago, threw for only 201 yards but tossed a pair of second-quarter scoring passes to tight end Vernon Davis and guided San Francisco to 7-of-12 efficiency on third-down conversions. Veteran running back Frank Gore rushed for 66 yards to go over 10,000 yards for his career while rookie Carlos Hyde made quite an impression in his NFL debut by chipping in 50 yards and a score on only seven carries. Willis was among three players to record an interception and veteran Justin Smith had two sacks to pace a defense that didn't allow the Cowboys into the end zone until the final 30 seconds of the third quarter.
TRENDS:
* Bears are 7-20-1 ATS in their last 28 games overall.
* Under is 7-1 in 49ers last 8 games following a ATS win.
* Over is 12-3 in Bears last 15 road games.
* Home team is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 meetings.
COVERS CONSENSUS: 63.35 percent of Covers users are taking the 49ers -7, with 51 percent taking over 48.
Chicago Bears at San Francisco 49ers (-7, 48)
Reports of the demise of the San Francisco 49ers' defense appear to be more than slightly exaggerated after the unit registered four turnovers in an easy season-opening victory over Dallas. The 49ers face another high-powered offense when they host the Chicago Bears on Sunday night in the first game at Levi's Stadium. "Everyone that's been talking about our defense, about how we won't be as good and what not, I don't get caught up in all that," Pro Bowl linebacker Patrick Willis said.
While the 49ers picked off three first-half passes en route to an early knockout of the Cowboys, a pair of interceptions also proved to be costly for the Bears, leading to 10 points in an eventual 23-20 overtime defeat to visiting Buffalo. "Obviously we made mistakes today and we've got to clean them up and got to keep it going," Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler said after throwing for 349 yards and a pair of scores. It will mark the first matchup between the teams since San Francisco drubbed the visiting Bears 32-7 in November 2012.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC. LINE: 49ers -7. O/U: 48.5
LINE HISTORY: After opening at 49ers -7, the line briefly dropped to -6.5 before moving back to -7 where it currently sits. The total has opened at 48 and has yet to move.
INJURY REPORT: Bears: WR Brandon Marshall (Ques-Ankle), G Matt Slauson (Ques-Ankle), WR Ashlon Jeffery (Ques-Hamstring) 49ers: T Anthony Davis (Ques-Hamstring), S Jimmie Ward (Ques-Concussion), CB Chris Culliver (Ques-Concussion)
COVERS POWER RANKINGS: Bears (+1.5) + 49ers (-6.5) + Home Field (-3) = 49ers (-11)
WEATHER REPORT: Currently a zero percent chance of clouds or rain, but wind could be a factor with gusts up to nine mph.
WHAT CAPPERS SAY: "Chicago lost its home opener for the first time since 2008 and it has not started a season 0-2 since 2003. The Bears travel to San Francisco Sunday night on a 0-11 ATS run following a non-conference game. San Francisco is back home after five straight road games going back to last regular season. 5-1 ATS in their last 8 against losing teams." Covers Expert Matt Fargo
ABOUT THE BEARS (0-1 SU, 0-1 ATS, 0-1 O/U): Chicago has some major injury concerns with starting wide receivers Brandon Marshall (ankle) and Alshon Jeffrey (hamstring) sitting out practice against Thursday, although Marshall said: "I'll be out there Sunday." The duo each had 71 yards receiving last week following a stellar 2013 campaign in which Marshall had 100 catches and 12 touchdowns and Jeffrey added 89 receptions and 1,421 yards receiving. That could force the Bears to rely even more on running back Matt Forte, who rushed for 82 yards on 17 carries and matched Marshall's total of eight catches for 87 yards against the Bills. Chicago's defense, a sieve for much of last season, limited Buffalo to 15 first downs but gave up 193 yards on the ground.
ABOUT THE 49ERS (1-0 SU, 1-0 ATS, 0-1 O/U): Colin Kaepernick, who made his first career start in the lopsided victory over Chicago two years ago, threw for only 201 yards but tossed a pair of second-quarter scoring passes to tight end Vernon Davis and guided San Francisco to 7-of-12 efficiency on third-down conversions. Veteran running back Frank Gore rushed for 66 yards to go over 10,000 yards for his career while rookie Carlos Hyde made quite an impression in his NFL debut by chipping in 50 yards and a score on only seven carries. Willis was among three players to record an interception and veteran Justin Smith had two sacks to pace a defense that didn't allow the Cowboys into the end zone until the final 30 seconds of the third quarter.
TRENDS:
* Bears are 7-20-1 ATS in their last 28 games overall.
* Under is 7-1 in 49ers last 8 games following a ATS win.
* Over is 12-3 in Bears last 15 road games.
* Home team is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 meetings.
COVERS CONSENSUS: 63.35 percent of Covers users are taking the 49ers -7, with 51 percent taking over 48.
