Expert predictions: Packers an underdog to Bears in playoff rematch

4 days ago 2

After playing one game decided by an interception in the end zone late in the fourth quarter and another that required a botched onside kick to get into overtime, the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears will get their rubber match in the NFC Wild Card Round on Saturday at Soldier Field.

Not surprisingly, experts picking the game are mostly split on who will win and advance -- although the majority is taking the Bears to beat the Packers and move on. As of Thursday morning, only 20 of the 53 experts reviewed are picking the Packers, or roughly 38 percent. A four-game losing streak and the loss of several key players to injury helped transform the Packers from a favorite in the NFC to a road underdog to the Bears in the opening round.

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The picks for Packers-Bears in the NFC Wild Card Round:

USA Today

Only two of the six writers at USA Today picked the Packers.

  • Jarrett Bell: Bears, 20-17

  • Nick Brinkerhoff: Bears, 27-23

  • Chris Bumbaca: Packers, 31-28

  • Nate Davis: Bears, 27-23

  • Tyler Dragon: Packers, 27-24

  • Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz: Bears, 28-21

ESPN

At ESPN, five of the nine pickers -- with two left to pick -- took the Packers.

  • Stephania Bell: No pick

  • Matt Bowen: Bears

  • Mike Clay: Bears

  • Jeremy Fowler: Packers

  • Dan Graziano: Packers

  • Kayln Kahler: Packers

  • Pamela Maldonado: Bears

  • Eric Moody: Packers

  • Jason Reid: Bears

  • Lindsey Thiry: Packers

  • Seth Wickersham: No pick

NFL.com

Only two of the 10 pickers at NFL.com took the Packers.

  • Daniel Jeremiah: Bears

  • Colleen Wolfe: Bears

  • Bucky Brooks: Packers

  • Maurice Jones-Drew: Packers

  • Grant Gordon: Bears

  • Adam Rank: Bears

  • Nick Shook: Bears

  • Marcas Grant: Bears

  • Kevin Patra: Bears

The Athletic

A split at The Athletic: two for the Packers, two for Bears.

  • Chad Graff: Packers

  • Larry Holder: Packers

  • Nick Kosmider: Bears

  • Zach Rosenblatt: Bears

SI/MMQB

Of the 10 experts at SI/MMQB, only four picked the Packers.

  • Albert Breer: Bears

  • Conor Orr: Packers

  • Gilberto Manzano: Bears

  • Matt Verderame: Packers

  • Greg Bishop: Bears

  • Michael Rosenberg: Bears

  • Andrew Brandt: Packers

  • John Pluym: Packers

  • Mitch Goldich: Bears

  • Claire Brennan: Bears

CBS Sports

The majority at CBS picked the Packers -- four of the six, with two left to pick.

  • Pete Prisco: Packers

  • Cody Benjamin: Packers

  • Jared Dubin: Packers

  • Ryan Wilson: Bears

  • John Breech: Packers

  • Tyler Sullivan: Bears

  • Dave Richard: No pick

  • Jeremy Eisenberg: No pick

Yahoo Sports

At Yahoo, only one of the eight pickers is taking the Packers.

  • Nate Tice: Bears

  • Charles Robinson: Packers

  • Jori Epstein: Bears

  • Charles McDonald: Bears

  • Frank Schaub: Bears

  • Andrew Siciliano: Bears

  • Matt Harmon: Bears

  • Jay Busbee: Bears

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Expert predictions: Packers an underdog to Bears in playoff rematch

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