By Johannes Vermeer, Inspin’s Collaborator, November 25th, 2011

The Chicago Bears will take the road this Sunday to face the Oakland Raiders (6-4) in Week 12, and even when this is far from being one of the hottest games of the weekend, it might give bettors the chance to make some extra cash on the side. 

The Bears will head into Oakland in search of their sixth straight victory with Caleb Hanie in place of injured QB Jay Cutler.  Cutler's injured thumb has turned the odds against the Bears, and has made the Raiders a popular pick. At this point, the Raiders seem to be the safer bet, especially considering they are playing at home.

The spread opened with the Bears as -1 ½ point favorites over the Oakland Raiders, but over the last days, the odds have turned in favor of the Raiders by at least 4 points.  But the fact the Raiders are listed as favorites for this game, does not necessarily mean the Bears have no chance to win this match. I see no reason to diminish their offensive capacity just because Cutler is out.

Over the last weeks; the Bears have improved greatly both offensively and defensively. On Week 10, the Bears destroyed the Lions 37-13 with only a few contributions from its offensive team. Additionally, the team has also won five straight games and is currently in great position to make the playoffs.

I’d also like to consider a couple of extra details. The Raiders have one of the weakest rushing defenses in the NFL.  The team’s defense is ranked 24th overall, 25th against the run and 20th against the pass. Oakland has also give up more first downs than most teams this season, which in the end, could be a positive factor for the Bears. On the other hand, Chicago’s defense, which is tied for second in the NFL with 23 turnovers, is one of several reasons the Bears feel they can beat the Raiders, despite Cutler's injury.

In my personal opinion, if Hanie manages the way to avoid making stupid mistakes during the game, then the Bears defense and special teams will be capable to win a decisive game for Chicago.

Inspin NFL Simulator:  Bears 64.29%.
Line: Raiders -4
Total: 41.5

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