NFL XBOX SIMULATION: Chicago vs San Francisco

Chicago Bears vs. San Francisco 49ers 8:20 ET

Week 10 of the NFL sports betting season kicks off on Thursday night for the first time in ‘09 when the Chicago Bears (4-4, 4-4 ATS) invade Candlestick Park to lock horns with the San Francisco 49ers (3-5, 5-2-1 ATS) in a NFC non-divisional pro football betting battle; kick-off is set for 8:20 ET and can be seen nationally on the NFL Network.

The Bears have won their L/3 meetings with the Niners with the most recent battle occurring in October of 2006 where they won 41-10 as lofty 16-point home chalks. The favorite and home teams are 5-1 ATS the L/6 meetings, while the over has cashed in 4 of the L/5. Chicago’s 0-6 SU & ATS L/6 trips to San Fran.

Weather: partly cloudy with lows in the 40s; northwest winds of 10 to 20 mph.

Both the Bears and 49ers headed into their Week 10 football betting match-up looking to bounce back from losses they incurred in front of their home fans last week.

San Francisco held a four-point lead after the 1st quarter of play. Chicago got on the board first with a K Robbie Gould FG, but the Niners answered with a 77-yard TD drive that was capped off by a TE Vernon Davis 7-yard TD reception from QB Alex Smith.

Chicago closed the gap to one on its fourth possession of the game with another Gould FG; this time from 47-yards out. But the Niners covered the first half spread on the final play of the half when K Joe Nedney nailed a chip shot from 26-yards out.

The Bears grabbed a 13-10 lead after the defense set QB Jay Cutler and company up with fabulous field position. CB Charles Tillman picked off a deflected pass and returned it all the way back to the Niners 8-yard line. After a RB Matt Forte one-yard gain on 1st down, Cutler connected with his favorite target, TE Greg Olsen, from 7-yards out. The lead was very short lived however, as the Niners marched right down the field and capped their 77-yard drive off with a 3-yard TD plunge from RB Frank Gore.

It only got worse for Bears backers from that point forward. On the very first play of the 4th quarter, Cutler was pick-sixed by LB Patrick Willis to put the Niners up by double-digits. Chicago failed to get anything done offensively the rest of the game as HC Mike Singletary’s men clamped down. SF added a FG late in the 4th, and went on to win by a 27-13 final count.

Statistically, these teams weren’t very far apart. SF outgained Chicago 330-302, but dominated on the ground outrushing the Bears 130-35. Both clubs turned turnovers directly into points, but Chicago’s offense just couldn’t do anything with no ground game to keep SF’s defense honest in the final quarter.

Take San Francisco (-3) -115 and Under 43.5 –110 in the BetUS Sportsbook.