The margin for error is razor thin for the Detroit Lions, who bring a 2-3 record into Monday night’s meeting with the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.

Chicago comes into the game fat and happy at 5-1 and also well-rested after its bye week. The Bears give away 6.5 points in this one, and that line has held steady for several days. Gamblers waiting for the line to head north or north by a half-point might just be watching the ship sail away from port.

“There’s two-way action on this game,” says Covers Expert Teddy Covers, “nothing worthy of note at the 'leading indicator' books. I think this number sits at 6.5 right through kickoff.”

Teddy’s comments were echoed at sportsbook.ag, where oddsmaker Mike Perry agreed that 6.5 is most likely set in hardening cement.

“Seven,” Perry told Covers, “is just too important a number so will let it sit at 6.5 and perhaps bump up the juice to -115 on the favorite.”

Perry’s book opened at Chicago -6 eight days ago, dropped it to -5 on Monday and slowly but steadily rose to 6.5 Thursday. Since then, radio silence.

“It moved mainly on money play,” said Perry, “not sharp action.”

By a modest margin bettors are on the Bears and also on the over (47). Both teams have been relatively reliable over plays this season – the Lions 3-1-1 and the Bears 3-2.

Handicapper Art Aronson says he’s among those waiting for that 7-point line, but adds that if it doesn’t come, he plans a hard look at an over play.

This was supposed to be a breakout year for the Lions after their playoff breakthrough last season. Instead, the offseason was spent celebrating and head coach Jim Schwartz is still trying to establish some traction.

It had better start Monday or planning for 2013 starts tomorrow morning.