Week 7: Chicago Bears vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (in London)

CHICAGO BEARS vs. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS  (in London)

Vegas Line: Buccaneers + 2

Rob’s Line: Bears + 0.5

When is a home game not a home game? This is Tampa’s second ‘home’ game in three seasons at Wembley Stadium, with much talk recently of the Bucs being shipped over here once a season to help generate a fan base for them before they possibly become the London Lord Nelsons, or are bequeathed some other such seafaring connotation. Look for this not to happen until at least 2025, but cogs have begun to turn.
Vegas have the Bears as favourites, which differs from how I see it (barely…or should that be Bearly?!!), and this line has actually shifted a little in their favour since it opened and, as this is, let’s be honest, a game on neutral territory, I can see both sides of the argument. All the usual home comforts of Raymond James Stadium are sitting dormant with the irony being that the Bucs are guaranteed selling out a home game this week. Wembley could sell out these games at least twice over, something the Glazer family can only see in their sleep.
Another quirk to proceedings this Sunday is that the Bears are a very well supported team in the UK, dating back to their all-conquering 1985 season that culminated in them demolishing the New England Patriots 46-10 in Super Bowl XX. Being based in London myself and knowing the handful of teams most popular with UK fans, I’m going to wager that there’ll be a considerable amount more Bears’ support on Sunday, which makes the Buccaneers’ ‘home’ advantage even less of an advantage.
Based purely on statistics, it’s surprising that the Bucs are 4-2, given that they average less than 19 points per game and rank 27th in overall defense. They’re hanging tough though and last week’s win over the Saints came as a surprise to this observer, coming as it did hot on the heels of the drubbing in San Fran. This team’s inconsistency is maddening, but they’re extremely talented with a young defense. Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy is extremely doubtful, despite participating in light training with the team since arriving in the UK, but the the Bucs need him back and quickly. With a bye coming up next week, he could well suit up for the crucial rematch in New Orleans in Week 9.
Chicago

dominated embarrassed Minnesota last Sunday night, but the Vikings weren’t even a shadow of the team that dished out the same treatment to Arizona just seven days earlier. I just plain didn’t get that, especially on primetime against a division rival, but you can only beat what’s in front of you and the Bears did just that.
Both teams head to London on a one game hot streak and the biggest question will be how much the travel has affected Chicago…I’d hope not at all for the sake of the spectacle as this promises to be a close one, but the best all-round football player from either team will have been part of that trek. Matt Forte will love the passion of the Wembley crowd and my hope is for this unheralded superstar to put on a show fitting of the evening.
Yes, I favour Tampa by the smallest margin possible so logic directs me to any points on offer for the Bucs and I like them with the two point advantage.