A pair of NFC heavyweights meet at Levi’s Stadium with the Chicago Bears visiting the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, December 28.
The two teams sport matching 11-4 records and two of the best offenses in the league, and my early NFL picks and Bears vs. 49ers predictions are calling for a close, high-scoring game on Sunday Night Football.
Bears vs 49ers predictions
Here are our early thoughts on the spread and total for this week’s game. We will have a full game preview (with a best bet and SGP) later in the week.
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Early SNF spread pick: Bears +3
My early lean is to take the points with the Chicago Bears.
The San Francisco 49ers have faced the third-easiest schedule per PFF, and a quick peek at the opponents they’ve topped during their current five-game winning streak is the opposite of a who’s who of Super Bowl contenders.
On the opposite sideline, the Bears are in the running for being the Rodney Dangerfield of the NFL. Chicago has gone 10-4-1 against the spread, which includes a 5-0-1 stretch as an underdog.
This uptick in class will test a San Fran defense allowing the eighth-most yards and 11th-highest EPA per play. The 49ers have generated pressure at the lowest rate in the NFL and also have the fewest sacks.
Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams has thrown for a respectable 7.6 yards per attempt and 66.2 completion percentage from a clean pocket, compared to respective 5.3 and 38.7% marks when pressured.
I expect Williams and the Bears to put enough points on the board to hang with the Niners in Week 17.
Early SNF total pick: Over 51.5
San Fran isn’t the only defense with shortcomings.
Chicago has allowed the fourth-most yards per play and a healthy 23.6 points per game. A league-high 31 takeaways has been a huge piece of the success puzzle for the Bears, and if the Niners take care of the football, they’ll score.
The 49ers have been scoring in bunches through five games with No. 1 QB Brock Purdy back in the fold. San Francisco has averaged 26.1 points per game, and Purdy paces the league in EPA+CPOE composite while throwing for 7.6 yards per attempt and a 70.2 completion percentage.
There’s nothing scary about the early weather forecast, either, so I’m expecting a back-and-forth shootout between these two under the bright lights of Sunday Night Football.
Bears vs 49ers odds
- Bears vs. 49ers spread: 49ers -3
- Bears vs. 49ers moneyline: Bears +148, 49ers -176
- Bears vs. 49ers Over/Under: 51.5
How to watch Bears vs 49ers
- Bears vs. 49ers matchup
- Date: Sunday, December 28, 2025, 8:20 p.m. ET
- City: Santa Clara, CA
- Venue: Levi's Stadium
- TV: NBC
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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