The Seattle Seahawks will face the Chicago Bears today for the right to host the Green Bay Packers in next weekend's NFC Championship Game. This afternoon's battle between the NFC West and NFC North champions is scheduled to get underway at 1:00pm ET at Soldier Field in Chicago. The latest 2011 NFL Playoff Picks have the Bears listed as a -10 against the spread home favorite and the Over/Under set at 43.
Seattle, which had lost five of six leading up to its regular season finale against the Rams, finally played a decent game in
beating their division rival to secure a postseason berth. Not a soul believed the team could carry the positive momentum from their win over St. Louis into the playoffs, though.
Seattle was a one and done team for sure and the fact that they were a 10 point home dog to the Saints was evidence of such. Only the Seahawks were not one and done, in fact, their performance against the defending champs has many believing another upset is possible today against the Bears.
It is more than possible, indeed it is probable, if two things that took place against the Saints happen in today's ball game. First Matt Hasselbeck must perform like the Hasselbeck of old or the new version of the old Hasselbeck, the guy who tossed four beautiful touchdown passes to end New Orelans' bid for another Lombardi. Second, Seattle must avoid turning the ball over. It has managed that well the past two games, limiting their giveaways to two, one in the Rams game and one in last week's Wild Card meeting with the Saints.
Chicago, in order for it to earn an unenviable third meeting with the Packers, must avoid the turnover as well. The Bears, at +4 on the season, have done a good job of that. But will Jay Cutler's gunslinger mentality get the best of him today? Head Coach Lovie Smith has had two full weeks to pound home the ball security message to the hard headed Cutler, Bears fans are hoping he got the message.
Chicago, which was listed at +700 moneyline odds to win the Lombardi in the latest Super Bowl Lines, went 2-2 in its final two games. In the two victories Cutler tossed six touchdowns to two interceptions; the two losses featured four Cutler interceptions and zero touchdowns.
The Bears are 1-3 in games that Cutler threw two or more interceptions and 1-4 in games that he did not throw a touchdown pass. So, for Chicago, which lost to Seattle 20-23 in a week six meeting at Soldier Field, the formula is simple, have Cutler throw more touchdown passes than interceptions. The Bears are a perfect 8-0 when he pulls that off.
NFL Point Spreads Betting Trend: The Seahawks are 2-11 against the spread and 1-12 straight up over the last five years playing as a road dog coming off a home win (Over 10-3 in those games).
Seahawks vs Bears 2011 NFL Playoff Picks:
Seattle Seahawks +10 (-110), Over 43 (-110), +350 (Moneyline)
Chicago Bears -10 (-110), Under 43 (-110), -450 (Moneyline)
