Friday, May 25th, 2012
The Chicago Bears will make the trip out west to face the San Diego Chargers in a week 1 NFL preseason game on Saturday night.
Kick off time from San Diego is set for 9PM Eastern Time with live television coverage only in the Chicago market. The game failed to sell out in time so no live TV in San Diego. Tape delayed national television coverage is provided by NFL Network 1AM late Saturday night.
The LVSC NFL odds makers opened the betting line with the San Diego Chargers as 3 point betting favorites with the over under coming in at 34 ½.
The bettors early money have not moved the number off the opener as the San Diego Chargers are currently 3 point favorites. The total saw movement downward to 33 ½.
NFL money line gamblers can play the favored San Diego Chargers at -155 with the road underdog Chicago Bears returning +135 to win this game without the aid of taking the points.
This marks the debut of Mike Martz as the Bears new offensive coordinator. Veteran Jay Cutler figures for a series or 2 to start this game. The 5 year pro had a miserable 2009 season as he completed 60.5% of his passes with 27 touchdowns and 26 interceptions.
Backup Caleb Hanie figures to see most of the action on Saturday. Haney has thrown only 7 passes during regular season play and completed 3 for 11 yards no touchdown and 1 pick. The three year veteran played in all four preseason games in 2009 and completed 62% of his passes with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception.
The Bears drafted Central Michigan quarterback Dan LeFevour and he figures to see action in the fourth quarter. Second year pro Mike Teel is competing for a roster spot for the Bears and could see late action. In four preseason games in 2009 he completed 20 of 41 passes for 238 yards three touchdowns and 1 interception.
Matt Forte and newly acquired Chester Taylor will line up in the Bears backfield and expect to see very limited action. Fourth year pro Garrett Wolfe, Kahlil Bell and rookies Brandon Minor and Harvey Unga figure to see spot action.
The Bears starting wide outs are Johnny Knox and Devin Hester and they figure to play for a series of two. Their backups are Rasheid Davis and Devin Aromashodu. Rookie Juaquin Iglesias from Alabama will see action as well as third year pro Earl Bennett.
Veteran starting quarterback Phillip Rivers has nothing to prove and may play for a series or two for the Chargers on Saturday night.
Rivers backup is 11 year veteran Billy Volek. He saw limited action in 2009 and completed 20 of 31 for 231 yards 1 touchdown and an interception. In preseason last season Volek competed in all 4 contests and completed 70.7% of his passes for 393 yards three touchdowns and 0 interceptions.
The third string quarterback on the roster is rookie Jonathan Crompton from Tennessee who figures to see action in the fourth quarter.
First round draft pick running back Ryan Matthews and veteran Darren Sproles figure to see limited carries on Saturday. Backups Jacob Hester will see plenty of carries as the #3 back. Also competing for a roster spot is SMU rookie Shawnbrey McNeal and second year pro Curtis Brinkley.
The Chargers are well stocked in their receiver position with Malcolm Floyd and Legedu Naanee as the starters. Vincent Jackson has been suspended for the Chargers first three games of the season. The club signed former Buffalo Bills wide out Josh Reed who will see action on Saturday. Rookies Richard Goodman from Florida St and Jeremy Williams from Tulane are also competing for jobs.
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NFL Trend: Chicago Bears are 5-1-1 ATS in their past 7 road preseason games.
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