Sports editors get nervous when we worker bees want to write about point spreads. But I’m wondering if taking the Bears and laying 3 1/2 points Sunday in Detroit can even be considered gambling.
I call it free money, the textbook definition of a lock. It took General Electric investors a long time to finally book some profits this year. It’ll take the Bears about three hours to double my buy-in money this weekend.
Yes, I’m aware of the 180-degree turn I’ve done on these Bears. Slobs to studs in a month’s time. Flip flop.
On Oct.29, I lamented how disappointing it was for the Bears to be on the off week because I wanted to keep wagering against Lovie Smith “while he’s hot” on the heels of back-to-back home losses to underdogs Seattle and Washington.
A division leader will have an accident in its pants soon, but it won’t be the Bears on Sunday. I am as certain of this as I am certain Julius Peppers is a great football player and the best free agent signing in Bears history. As certain as I am that Devin Hester is a great return man. That Mike Martz can continue to exhibit common sense.
Form finally has arrived and the indisputable proof is that the Bears have an elite defense. Against Michael Vick. Against Brett Favre.
Especially against backups. And their backups.
Drew Stanton? Get me to the window.
Given Stanton’s inexperience — and 73 rating in relief of Matthew Stafford and Shaun Hill — coupled with Detroit’s penchant for playing only 45-minute games, how can you not like the Bears to blow Detroit out of the building?
When last seen, the Lions were giftwrapping New England touchdowns on Thanksgiving. I thought defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham was going to light himself on fire after cornerback Alphonso Smith was torched several times for scores.
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There is some young talent in Detroit, namely rookie defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. While the Bears have been stacking victories, the Lions have been demonstrating they still haven’t learned how to win.
Keep rubbing that horseshoe in Lake Forest. The Bears are as lucky as they are good.
In Week 5, they faced Carolina rookie quarterback Jimmy Clausen. It also is worth noting it was the lowly Panthers who were on the schedule when Cutler missed his first start as a Bear with a concussion.
Two weeks ago, Miami offered the immortal Tyler Thigpen in relief of the Chads. Last week, Philadelphia was without defensive backs Asante Samuel and Ellis Hobbs.
Now it’s time to scheme for Stanton, the Lions’ No.3. Sometimes every break goes your way. You don’t bemoan it. You embrace it.
I’m wondering if the Bears next fortuitous bounce will be a favor from the Jets, whose goal will be to knock Tom Brady silly Monday night, six days before the Bears play the Patriots, conveniently at mushy Soldier Field. Oh, the Bears-Jets game is in the spaceship on the lake, too.
Lucky as they are, Team McCaskey isn’t without its blemishes. The Bears still don’t protect Jay Cutler well. Sacks punctuated by lost fumbles could keep an inferior team like Detroit in the game, but I’m going to ride this Chicago defense. It might outscore the Lions.
Trap game? Suffer a let down? Be serious. Just a rare roll out the helmets and shoulder pads and have recess time. If it were a fight, they’d be forced to stop it.
I’m going big Sunday when I make my investment. It would pain me to see the now oft-smiling Smith the only one enjoying the Bears’ prosperity.
Woof woof.
Dan McNeil hosts the “Danny Mac Show” weekdays between 9 a.m. and 1p.m. on WSCR-AM 670.