Predictions

With the teams done (for now) Stateside and the teams are in the UK, heading out on PR trips and settling into their comfortable Spa Hotels in Surrey and the like, we can take a look at the current standings.

Both teams put in good strong performances in week 6 to get important divisional wins. The Bucs are top of the NFC South thanks to victories over the Saints and Falcons. The Bears are 3 games off the lead and 2 off second in the North. With both teams in strong divisions, it means that every game really does count and the Bears and Bucs could be looking at tie-break criteria come end of the season. There’s a lot to play for at Wembley.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Record: 4-2, 1st NFC South
Scored: 113
Allowed: 145

Previous Games
Lost v Detroit Lions 20-27
Won @ Minnesota Vikings 24-20
Won v Atlanta Falcons 16-13
Won v Indianapolis Colts 24-17
Lost @ San Francisco 48-3
Won v New Orleans Saints 26-20

Chicago Bears
Record: 3-3, 3rd NFC North
Scored: 146
Allowed: 132

Previous Games
Won v Atlanta Falcons 30-12
Lost @ New Orleans Saints 13-30
Lost v Green Bay Packers 17-27
Won v Carolina Panthers 34-29
Lost @ Detroit Lions 24-13
Won v Minnesota Vikings 39-10

Record against common opponents: Lions, Falcons, Saints, Vikings
(Team, Record, PF, PA)
Bucs 3-1-0, 86, 80
Bears 2-2-0, 95, 76

Prediction

This is the hardest game to predict of all those that we’ve seen so far, and the odds are tight. The Bucs are winning and other than one blow-out, all their games have been decided by a single score. The Bears are less consistent, with only one of their games being by less than 7 points.

For the neutrals, that is great news. As the nominal home team, I’ll be cheering for the Bucs but my head says that the Bears will have too much experience and will play a smarter game to take a narrow win.

Andrew says: 27 – 21 Bears

Graham says: 21 – 17 Buccaneers

Craig says: 14 – 10 Bucs

Official Mac Prediction: Narrow Bucs win, but at this point let’s just enjoy the game!

With just one game to go before the NFL IS teams pack up and head East to London, let’s take a look at how they’re doing by the numbers.

Chicago Bears

Record: 2-3, 3rd NFC North
Scored: 107
Allowed: 122

Previous Games
Won v Atlanta Falcons 30-12
Lost @ New Orleans Saints 13-30
Lost v Green Bay Packers 17-27
Won v Carolina Panthers 34-29
Lost @ Detroit Lions 24-13

Upcoming Games
v Minnesota Vikings

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Record: 3-2, 2nd NFC South
Scored: 87
Allowed: 125

Previous Games
Lost v Detroit Lions 20-27
Won @ Minnesota Vikings 24-20
Won v Atlanta Falcons 16-13
Won v Indianapolis Colts 24-17
Lost @ San Francisco 48-3

Upcoming Games
v New Orleans Saints

The Bucs gave up loads to the 49ers in a game that they looked just terrible in. The Bears, for the most part, kept it close against the Lions.

Record v common opponents
There are now two common opponents, the Falcons (who both teams beat) and the Lions (who they both lost to). After week 6, there will be 4 games against shared opponents and we await with interest this week’s games.

(Team, Record, PF, PA)
Bears 1-1-0, 43, 36
Bucs  1-1-0, 36, 40

So far neither team has beaten a team with a winning record.

This week the Bears take on the Vikings, a team who have just recorded their first win but who remain dangerous at times. After watching Kevin Smith rack the yards up against the Bears, I’m sure Adrian Peterson is rubbing his hands in anticipation.

The Bucs go up against the Saints who are always dangerous and who are looking like a good bet for the NFC South.

The London game looks like it should be a close one (though for the wrong reasons!) but it’s a game we’re still looking forward to. At this stage I say: Bears to win by 4-7 points.