5 Best Bets for Bucs vs. Bears on Sunday Night Football
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football for a Week 9 matchup at Soldier Field featuring two teams leaning on very different offensive identities. Can Bucky Irving and Caleb Williams help dictate the game as injuries create important questions on both sides of the ball? Check out these Buccaneers vs. Bears 5 best bets for Sunday, November 8.
Peter Alexis - November 8, 2026, 6:00 PM EST
5 Minute ReadBucs vs. Bears Best Bets for Sunday Night Football
Tampa Bay heads to Chicago for an 8:20 PM ET matchup with its offense increasingly leaning on the running game while the defense remains the more reliable side of the roster. The Buccaneers will also have to navigate injuries along the offensive line and defensive front against a Bears team that has found more consistency offensively.
Chicago's ability to generate explosive plays could be one of the defining factors in the matchup, particularly against a Tampa Bay defense dealing with personnel concerns of its own. The Buccaneers' best path to controlling the game may come through sustained possession and limiting the amount of pressure placed on their passing attack.
Buccaneers vs. Bears Date, Time, Where to Watch
- Date: Sunday, November 8, 2026
- Time: 8:20 PM ET
- Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
- How to Watch: NBC, Peacock
Buccaneers vs. Bears Odds
- Spread: Buccaneers +6 (-106), Bears -6 (-105)
- Total Points: Over 47.5 (-106), Under 47.5 (-108)
- Moneyline: Buccaneers +225, Bears -260
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Bucs vs. Bears 5 Best Bets Breakdown
1. Bucky Irving Over 62.5 Rushing Yards (-110) Check out these best odds at BetMGM Sportsbook
Tampa Bay's offensive identity has shifted significantly toward the ground game, as evidenced by their 53.3% rushing split and 1,349 total rushing yards through eight contests. Lead back Bucky Irving is the primary beneficiary of this approach and is projected for a heavy workload of approximately 17 carries. The matchup is favorable due to Chicago's depleted defensive interior; the Bears recently placed Kentavius Street on injured reserve and Grady Jarrett has been limited in practice with a groin injury.
Model projections estimate Irving reaching 76.56 rushing yards, providing a strong cushion against this 62.5-yard line. We are accepting the risk that a potential absence of offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs (toe) could marginally impact perimeter blocking efficiency.
2. Rome Odunze Over 45.5 Receiving Yards (-112) Check out these best odds at FanDuel Sportsbook
Chicago operates a pass-heavy offense, throwing on 62.8% of plays and averaging 26.75 points per game. Rome Odunze has established himself as a premier deep threat, coming off a Week 8 performance where he recorded 87 receiving yards while averaging 21.8 yards per reception. With Tampa Bay missing edge rusher Yaya Diaby (MCL sprain), Caleb Williams should have more time to find Odunze in single coverage downfield.
Model point estimates project Odunze for 53.85 yards, well above this market line. The primary risk involves the target distribution among Chicago's supporting cast, including Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland, which creates some route-to-route variance in Odunze's volume.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers +3 (+165) Check out these best odds at BetMGM Sportsbook
The Buccaneers' defense remains their most consistent unit, allowing just 18.875 points per game this season. While Chicago is efficient offensively, Tampa Bay's secondary, led by Zyon McCollum (9 passes defended), is well-equipped to limit big plays. Model projections suggest Chicago should be closer to a 3.38-point favorite in a game with a 47.9-point total, making the Buccaneers at +3 with generous 2.50 odds a high-value spread position.
For this to land, Tampa Bay must utilize Bucky Irving to control the clock and keep the score within a field goal. The risk is Baker Mayfield's recent dip in passing form, as he has averaged only 115.75 yards per game over his last four starts.
4. Baker Mayfield Under 219.5 Passing Yards (-114) Check out these best odds at FanDuel Sportsbook
Baker Mayfield's passing volume has plummeted recently, highlighted by a Week 8 performance where he attempted only three passes. Over his last four games, he is averaging just 115.75 passing yards. This decline is largely due to Tampa Bay's offensive shift toward a 53.3% rushing rate to protect Mayfield, who has absorbed 14 sacks in just five games.
Facing a Bears defense that allows only 20.0 points per game and features Montez Sweat (3.0 sacks), Mayfield is likely to face sustained pressure. Model projections estimate Mayfield will finish around 198.43 yards. The risk to this under would be a negative game script that forces Tampa Bay into an uncharacteristic catch-up mode, necessitating higher passing volume.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Moneyline (+225) Check out these best odds at Caeasars Sportsbook
Market pricing at 3.40 implies less than a 29.5% win probability for the Buccaneers, yet AI models calculate an outright win probability of 39.18%, creating a significant value edge. Tampa Bay's path to an upset rests on their superior defensive scoring average (18.875 points allowed) and their ability to create turnovers via Zyon McCollum, who leads the unit with two interceptions.
If the Buccaneers can exploit Chicago's interior defensive line injuries to sustain drives on the ground, they are well-positioned for a plus-money upset. We are accepting the risk of high sack vulnerability, as Mayfield's 11.29% sack rate could be problematic against the Bears' front at Soldier Field.
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