Carolina Panthers @ Chicago Bears: Thursday Night Football best bets, predictions, picks and preview

NFL betting tips: Thursday Night Football

1pt Khalil Herbert over 43.5 rushing yards at 5/6 (Betfair, Paddy Power)

1pt Khalil Herbert to score a touchdown at 6/4 (Sky Bet)

• NOTE: Since publication, it has been reported that Khalil Herbert is not expected to play due to injury. In his place, D'Onta Foreman is likely to be the Bears' RB1, with Roschon Johnson at RB2.

Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power | Betfair

Carolina Panthers @ Chicago Bears

• Kick-off time: Friday, 01:15 GMT
• TV: Sky Sports Main Event
• Spread: Chicago Bears -3.5 @ 1/1
• Total: Under 39.5 @ 10/11

Week 10 is here, and we kick off with possibly the worst Thursday Night Football clash we’ll see all year long. The 1-7 Carolina Panthers travel to face the 2-7 Chicago Bears, with both teams coming off bad losses where their quarterbacks threw three picks each. Bryce Young looked lost as he threw two terrible pick-6s in a 27-13 loss to the Colts, whilst backup Tyson Bagent has lost the excitement from his debut in a 24-17 loss to the Saints. Justin Fields has finally returned to practice after injuring his shoulder in mid-October, but in a limited capacity, and is considered day-to-day. There is no certainty that we’ll see Fields in this game, which further reduces the competitiveness of this contest.

One player I like in this matchup is Chicago running back Khalil Herbert. Herbert suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 5 and has been on injured reserved since, however he was a full participant in Monday’s practice & has been activated from IR back to the roster. The RB has averaged 5.3 yards per carry this season and was leading the team in rushing yards before his untimely injury.

He now faces a dismal Panthers run defence – only the Denver Broncos are allowing more rushing yards per game to RBs than the Panthers. Plus the Broncos had the freak 70 point game versus the Dolphins where they conceded a huge 350 rushing yards – if we take that game out of the equation then then Panthers rank dead last on a per game basis. Plus, no team has conceded more touchdowns to running backs than the Panthers – with 15 through eight games.

Before his injury, Herbert was just starting to get into gear – with 103 yards against the Broncos & then 76 yards against the Commanders. D’Onta Foreman has moved the ball efficiently in his absence – averaging 67 yards per game – showing the that the offensive line is starting to click. To further sweeten the pot, Panthers’ star defender Brian Burns suffered a concussion in Week 9, and with the short turnaround he’s very likely to miss this contest. He will be a huge miss from the defensive line, which will ultimately lead to more holes for Chicago’s rushing attack to exploit.

This is a perfect spot for Herbert to return in – don’t be shocked to see a huge game from the running back in what will be an uneventful watch.

Score prediction: Bears 21-14 Panthers

Preview posted at 1200 BST on 9/11/23

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