Chicago Bears Betting in Iowa

Training camp tickets are on sale so you know a regular-season bet on the Chicago Bears is just around the corner. With no in-state NFL franchise, the Monsters of the Midway have an uncommitted pool of regional fans to tap into here in the Hawkeye State.

PlayIA has some of the best ways to “bear down” with bets on this side of the Mississippi River.

The Bears finished the 2021 season with a 6-11 mark. The record and third-place finish in the NFC North fueled some leadership changes for the franchise.

The 2022 season begins with new GM Ryan Poles, whose hire was announced Jan. 25 and coach Matt Eberflus who was hired Jan. 27. They also have a young quarterback in Justin Fields to build around, so the future is bright in the Windy City.

Latest Chicago Bears Odds

See below for the current Chicago Bears odds from Iowa sportsbooks. Click on any of the odds to go directly to the online sportsbook, claim your sign-up bonus and register for a new account.

Bears Vegas Odds vs. Online Odds

Las Vegas was the only option for legal sports betting in the US for decades. As a result, the odds of the desert served as the word to live by when it came to wagering. Times have changed.

You can now legally bet on sports in a number of states, including Iowa. Major sportsbooks have set up shop in the state, providing comparable odds to what you’ll find in Sin City.

We can’t promise that the numbers will be spot on for every Bears game on the docket. Due to market action, that’s impossible. All sportsbooks will make adjustments to their numbers in response to public betting.

That said, the overall range should be close. For comparison purposes, you can always look at the lines from Vegas and compare them with the numbers from Iowa books. In general, you should find that the odds here at home are on point, as well.

Bears live betting  

There are plenty of options to consider for betting on Bears games. Two of the most popular options offer lots of choices for bettors. Live betting affords you the chance to bet in real-time as the game plays out, while props give you a chance to get in some side action on things that may or may not happen.

Live betting has been taking off in recent years, and sportsbooks have responded. For each Bears game, you’ll see a slew of betting opportunities pop up. Offerings will vary based on what’s happening, but here are some examples of what you’ll see:

• Updated odds for moneylines, spreads and totals.
• What will be the outcome of the Bears’ next drive — TD/FG/TO/punt?

Also known as in game betting, this is a market that moves really fast. Apps from leading sportsbooks make for a great way to stay on top of all the action. You can stay dialed into the game while occasionally glancing at the app to check for wagers you like.

You can find prop bets by clicking on the individual game listings. Some props are based on team performance and on the game as a whole. Some of the most popular prop bet offerings have to do with player performances:

• Which Bears player will score a TD first?
• Total rushing yards for David Montgomery — over/under 79.5?

Props and live betting are two awesome ways to get even closer to the action. A prop brings a little bit of fantasy sports appeal to betting, while the chance to bet live means you can stay engaged with the games like never before.

Bears Betting Lines Explained  

Every time the Bears get set to take the field, sportsbooks will unveil odds for the game. The main listing will feature three of the most popular bet types: point spread, moneyline and total. It’ll look something like this:

If we read from left to right next to the two team names, we find that the Bears are favored by 3.5 points over the Vikings. Chicago is also the moneyline favorite in a game with a total line set at 47.5 points.

On spreads and moneylines, the choice with negative odds is the favorite, while the numbers on the underdog side are positive. For spreads and totals, you’ll see the benchmark numbers set by the sportsbook as well as the actual odds for placing the bet. Here’s how each bet works.

Bears moneyline

The goal is simple: pick the winner from the favorite or underdog, which are designated by positive and negative odds respectively.

• Minnesota Vikings +150
• Chicago Bears -180

Simple to place and easy to understand, moneyline bets are a great starting point for new NFL bettors, but there’s also value to be found for those with experience.

Bears point spread

From a betting perspective, the spread makes each and every NFL game appealing. Oddsmakers set the line for bettors to factor into their decision-making.

• Minnesota Vikings +3.5 (-110)
• Chicago Bears -3.5 (-110)

You can select the favorite minus the points or the dog plus the number. The side you pick has to cover the spread for your bet to be graded a winner.

Bears totals

Also known as an over/under bet, this wager revolves around the total combined points scored in the game compared to the number set by the book.

• Over 47.5 (-110)
• Under 47.5 (-110)

For our example, an over bettor is banking on 48 or more points to be scored, while the under side is hoping to 47 points or less on the board when all is said and done.

All three of these bet types will see lots of action for Bears games. It’s important to remember that the odds and lines may change, and also that the numbers can be different at some books. You should always compare the opening lines for the game with where they currently stand when you’re ready to bet. Also, make sure to line shop for the best possible prices.

2022 Chicago Bears schedule

The 2022 Chicago Bears schedule began to take shape as soon as the 2021 season came to a close. Naturally, the Bears face their three NFC North rivals twice this upcoming season — home and away (six games):

• Detriot Lions
• Green Bay Packers
• Minnesota Vikings

Each team plays 17 regular-season games with a bye week, so that leaves 11 games to round out the 2022 schedule. The NFL rotates teams from another NFC division every three years.

• In 2022, the NFC North teams face the NFC East teams (four games).
• The league rotates an AFC division into the Bears schedule on a four-year cycle as well. In 2022, AFC East teams will be on Chicago’s schedule (four games).
• Chicago finished behind Green Bay and Minnesota, but ahead of Detroit in 2022. That means they have games with the third-place teams from the NFC West and NFC South as well (two games).
• The league added a 17th game in 2021. So, the Bears will play another third-place team from the AFC. The AFC division opponent for the 17th game rotates every four years as well.

With that background here are the Chicago Bears 2022 opponents:

When does the 2023 Chicago Bears schedule come out?

Nothing is official yet, but the NFL released the 2022 NFL schedule on May 12, so look for a similar timeline next spring. If the NFL follows the same calendar pattern, watch for a team schedule in the mid-week before or after Mother’s Day in 2023. ESPN and NFL Network both plan hours of programming around the schedule announcement.

Also starting in 2022, all 32 NFL teams have to play an international game at least once every eight seasons. Chicago doesn’t have an international game for this upcoming season, so a trip to London, Germany or Mexico will pop up down the road.

Chicago Bears Future Opponents

Barring changes to the current NFL scheduling formula we know who many of Chicago’s home-and-away opponents will be in future years. We already know Detroit, Green Bay and Minnesota are locked in as home-and-away division rivals so we won’t list them below.

2023

• Home — Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders and an NFC West team
• Away — LA Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, an NFC East team and an AFC North team

2024

• Home — LA Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, an NFC South team and an AFC East team
• Away — Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco 49ers and an NFC East team

How Did the Bears Do in 2021-22?

The 2021 campaign for the Chicago Bears started with a lot of promise. The team began with a 3-2 start, including a pair of wins over 2021 playoff teams. A streak of eight losses in nine games doomed the Nagy-Pace leadership team. They did finish the year with two wins in three games.

Poles, the new GM, was previously director of player personnel for the Kansas City Chiefs. Eberflus, his first coaching hire, was the former defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts.

Recent Bears Stats Leaders

The Bears have had a few flashes in recent years, but not enough to join the ranks of the NFL’s elite. The team showed some promise moving the ball in the first year of coach Matt Nagy’s tenure in 2018, but the progression has been tougher since then. Over on defense, it’s a similar story. Here’s a look at the stats leaders in Chicago for the last few years.

Bears Starting QBs for the Past 10 Years

A new era is coming to the Windy City. The team spent a first-round draft choice on QB Justin Fields out of Ohio State. He’s a promising prospect who could have a very bright future. The club has also signed veteran signal-caller Andy Dalton, who picked up some starts in 2021. Here’s a look back at the last 10 years of starting QBs in Chicago.

• 2021: Justin Fields, 10 games. Andy Dalton, 6 games. Nick Foles, 1. Record: 6-11
• 2020: Mitchell Trubisky, 9 games. Nick Foles, 7 games. Record: 8-8
• 2019: Mitchell Trubisky, 15 games. Chase Daniel, 1. Record: 8-8
• 2018: Mitchell Trubisky, 14. Chase Daniel, 2. Record: 12-4
• 2017: Mitchell Trubisky, 12. Mike Glennon, 4. Record: 5-11
• 2016: Matt Barkley, 6. Jay Cutler, 5. Brian Hoyer, 4. Record: 3-13
• 2015: Jay Cutler, 15. Jimmy Clausen, 1. Record: 6-10
• 2014: Jay Cutler, 15. Jimmy Clausen, 1. Record: 5-11
• 2013: Jay Cutler, 11. Josh McCown, 5. Record: 8-8
• 2012: Jay Cutler, 15. Jason Campbell, 1. Record: 10-6

Latest Bears’ Draft Picks

For the first time in a few years, the Bears had a selection in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. In 2018, the club nabbed RB David Montgomery in round three with its first selection. The following year, it was TE Cole Kmet as the first Bears pick in the second round. Chicago had the 11th pick in 2021 and gave the fanbase a jolt with the choice. Here’s a look back at the latest Bears top picks.

Chicago Bears Draft Picks

The franchise hopes it found its quarterback of the future in first-round pick Justin Fields. The Ohio State standout was selected No. 11 overall in the 2021 draft. Chicago moved from No. 20 to No. 11 to draft Fields in 2021, but that cost the franchise its first-round pick and its fourth-round pick in 2022. The Giants used the Bears’ No. 7 overall pick to draft Alabama OT Evan Neal.

But that was last year. The Bears moved back several times in the 2022 NFL Draft to pick up additional picks

• Second round
  • The Bears had a high second-round (No. 39 overall) pick and used it to draft Washington CB Kyler Gordon.
  • Chicago added the LA Chargers’ second-round pick (No. 48) in the Khalil Mack trade and drafted Penn State S Jaquan Brisker.
• Third round
  • The Bears used pick No. 71 to draft Tennessee WR Velus Jones Jr.
• Fifth round
  • The Bears moved down three times in the fifth round to acquire more picks. At pick No. 168 via Buffalo, the Bears selected Southern Utah State OT Braxton Jones.
  • Chicago used Cincinnati’s pick at No. 174 to select Miami (Ohio) Edge Dominique Robinson.
• Sixth round
  • The trade-downs helped Chicago use three sixth-round picks. They used their own pick at No. 186 to land San Diego State G Zach Thomas.
  • At pick 203 from Buffalo, the Bears selected Baylor RB Trestan Ebner.
  • Chicago used Pick 207 from Houston to draft Illinois C Doug Kramer.
• Seventh round
  • The Bears added three more picks through trades, starting with Southern G Ja’Tyre Carter at No. 226.
  • Chicago acquired back-to-back picks from the LA Chargers. They gave the Chargers a 2023 round 6 pick in return. They drafted Cal DB Elijah Hicks with first pick at 254.
  • At pick 255, they selected North Carolina State P Trenton Gill.

The 2023 NFL Draft is April 27-29 in Kansas City.

Bears’ Bench Staff

The staff under new coach Matt Eberflus is beginning to take shape.

• Offensive Coordinator: Luke Getsy
• Defensive Coordinator: Alan Williams
• Special Teams Coordinator: Richard Hightower
• Head Strength and Conditioning Coach: Jim Arthur
• Linebackers Coach: Dave Borgonzi
• Safeties Coach: Andre Curtis
• Tight Ends Coach: Jim Dray
• Assistant Defensive Lines Coach: Justin Hinds
• Quarterbacks Coach: Andrew Janocko
• Assistant Offensive Line Coach: Austin King
• Assistant Strenght & Conditioning Coach: Noble Landry
• Assistant Strenght & Conditioning Coach: Jimmy Mangiero
• Offensive Line Coach: Chris Morgan
• Assistant Defensive Backs Coach: David Overstreet II
• Assistant Special Teams Coach: Carlos Polk
• Defensive Backs Coach: James Rowe
• Defensive Line Coach: Travis Smith
• Passing Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach: Tyke Tolbert
• Running Backs Coach: David Walker
• Defensive Quality Control: Ronell Williams
• Offensive Quality Control: Omar Young
• Assistant Tight Ends Coach: Tim Zetts
• Coaching Assistant: Kevin Koch
• Executive Assistant to the Head Coach: Robyn Wilkey

Past coaches

Just five men have roamed the sidelines while in charge of Chicago since the turn of the century. Here’s a peek at the overall records for each Bears head coach over that span.

Where Do the Bears Play?

Best Sports Bars to Watch Chicago Bears Games

If you’re in the Chicago area but don’t have tickets to catch the game in person at Soldier Field, fear not. There are plenty of great watering holes in the city that have an awesome atmosphere for Bears games. Here’s a trio of them.

Gracie O’Malley’s in Chicago

This spot is in what’s known as the landmark district. It’s an eclectic Irish pub with lots of TVs and plenty of food and drink specials.

• Address: 1635 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago
• Phone: 773-292-2765
• Hours: 5 p.m. to midnight, Mondays through Tuesdays, 11 a.m. to midnight Wednesdays through Sundays

The Globe Pub in Chicago

If you’re a fan of beer, this is the place to go. The Globe is over on the north side of the Windy City. Highlights include the extensive beer menu and plenty of screens to catch the game.

• Address: 1934 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago
• Phone: 773-871-3757
• Hours:  11 a.m. to midnight Tuesdays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays, 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. on Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sundays and closed Mondays

The Ambassador Public House in Chicago

This is a fun Euro-style pub located over in the West Loop. There are lots of food and drink specials, a plethora of TVs and a big list of beers

• Address: 310 S. Halsted St., Chicago
• Phone: 312-888-9961
• Hours: 2 p.m. to 1 a.m. Mondays through Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and the first game to midnight/1 a.m. on the weekends

Closer to home in Iowa, there are also plenty of cool spots to kick back and soak in all the Bears action. Here’s a trio of stops to put on your to-do list.

’85 Bar in Des Moines

If a bar is named after the greatest Bears season ever, then chances are it’s a real good time. That’s the case at ’85 Bar, a great spot for food, beverages and pigskin.

• Address: 305 Grand Ave., West Des Moines
• Phone: 515-207-3303
• Hours: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays

Otis’ Tailgators in Coralville

This is a fun spot in Coralville with a long happy hour during the week and an extensive food and beverage menu. There’s also another Tailgators location in Cedar Rapids.

• Address: 450 First Ave., Coralville
• Phone: 319-356-6914
• Hours: Open 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day

Charlie’s Filling Station in West Des Moines

For a bar with that local neighborhood feel, check out Charlie’s. Beyond the usual TVs, food and beverages, there are also pool tables and darts for even more fun.

• Address: 305 Grand Ave., West Des Moines
• Phone: 515-274-9041
• Hours: Open  3 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day

How to Watch, Listen and Stream Bears Games in Iowa

It’s easy to find NFL games on the tube. The league has broadcast agreements in place for each of the major weekly schedule windows. If the Bears are playing on Sunday afternoon, the game will be on CBS or Fox, both of which have affiliate stations across Iowa.

When Chicago gets one of the primetime slots, you won’t have to look far, either. Thursday Night Football is carried by a combination of Fox, the NFL Network and Amazon Prime. Sunday Night Football is the property of NBC, while Monday Night Football makes its home on ESPN.

You can find most of the above options with a simple cable, satellite or streaming package. The availability of the NFL Network may vary, while Amazon Prime is a separate subscription. For Sunday afternoon slates, NFL Red Zone provides overview coverage of all games.

It’s usually an add-on with most packages, so look for the option to include it in any subscriptions. Satellite provider DirecTV also has the Sunday Ticket package, while select local and primetime games are available for streaming on Yahoo sports or the NFL app.

On the radio side, KCPS 1150 AM out of Burlington picks up the feed for Bears broadcasts. Jeff Jonak handles play-by-play, while Tom Thayer takes care of analysis. The audio feed is also available online or via an app with various radio aggregators.

Brief Bears History

The history of the Chicago Bears stretches back to 1920. The club was one of the founding members of the NFL. George Halas gained control of the team in 1921. The team is unique in that ownership has remained in the family ever since.

The Bears won eight NFL championships in the pre-Super Bowl era. Halas wore many hats while running the team for decades. Following the NFL-AFL merger, the club stagnated for a bit, but a renaissance occurred in the 1980s.

The team of this era was known for its ferocious defense and a cast of memorable characters, including head coach Mike Ditka, QB Jim McMahon, and DT William “Refrigerator” Perry. The club put it all together in a memorable 1985 season, winning Super Bowl XX.

Since that point, the club has found a few flashes of success, including reaching the Super Bowl in 2006, but it hasn’t been able to get over the hump again. The team remains one of the league’s signature franchises, with a huge following across the nation.

Greatest Bears Players of All Time

A total of 36 players and contributors who spent time with the Chicago Bears have made the Pro Football Hall of Fame, while the team has retired 14 numbers. Multiple legendary players have worn the blue and orange through the years. Here’s a look at some of the team record holders, many of whom are among the best in franchise history.

• Career Rushing Yards: Walter Payton, 16,726
• Career Passing Yards: Jay Cutler, 23,443
• Career Receiving Yards: Johnny Morris, 5,059
• Career Sacks: Richard Dent, 124.5
• Career Tackles: Mike Singletary, 1,488
• Career Interceptions: Gary Fencik, 50
• Career Field Goals Made: Robbie Gould, 276
• Career Return Touchdowns: Devin Hester, 19
• Most TDs in Season: Gale Sayers, 22 in 1965
• Single-Season Rushing Yards: Walter Payton, 1,852 in 1977
• Single-Season Passing Yards: Erik Kramer, 3,838 in 1995
• Single-Season Receptions: Brandon Marshall, 118 in 2012
• Single-Season Sacks: Richard Dent, 17.5 in 1984
• Most TDs in Single Game: Gale Sayers, six in 1965
• Most Rushing Yards in Single Game: Walter Payton, 275 in 1977
• Most Passing Yards in Single Game: Johnny Lujack, 468 in 1949
• Most Passing TDs in Single Game: Sid Luckman, seven in 1943
• Most Receiving Yards in Single Game: Alshon Jeffery, 249 in 2013
• Most Sacks in Single Game: Richard Dent, 4.5 in 1984 and 1987
• Most Bears Playoff Game Appearances: Mark Bortz, 13 from 1983-94

What is the Super Bowl Shuffle? Where Can I Watch It? 

The 1985 edition of the Chicago Bears goes down as one of the greatest NFL teams of all-time. The club racked up a 15-1 record in the regular season and dominated in the postseason, picking up a blowout win over the New England Patriots to win Super Bowl XX.

During the year, it was clear that there was something quite special about this group. Players would get together for one of the most memorable promotional videos of all time, the Super Bowl Shuffle. You can check out this iconic moment in pop culture history below.

Where are William Perry, Jim McMahon and Mike Singletary now?

The ’85 Bears are the most iconic team in franchise history. They’re in the discussion of the greatest single-season teams in NFL history. There were stars and memorable characters on both sides of the ball. Let’s take a look at what some of the most popular Bears players of this era are up to now:

• William Perry: The man dubbed “The Refrigerator” became a pop culture phenom after the team began using the star defensive player on offense as well. His NFL career came to an end in 1994, but he would go on to play a season with the London Monarchs of the World League of American Football. Perry has made a few media appearances through the years, but he has been out of the spotlight for some time now while dealing with health issues.
• Jim McMahon: McMahon also became a pop culture icon during the 1980s. His career with the Bears came to a close in 1988, and he would go on to bounce around the league for several seasons before finally calling it quits in 1996. His post-football life has seen him wear many hats, including a stint as a motivational speaker. He has dealt with some health and financial struggles through the years, and made headlines by speaking out on the impacts of football-related concussions.
• Mike Singletary: Singletary was one of the signature faces of the Bears’ defense of this era. He played his entire career in Chicago, retiring in 1992. Singletary entered the coaching ranks following the turn of the century and steadily worked his way up the ladder. He served as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers from 2009-10. Singletary is an ordained minister and a motivational speaker, as well as the author of several books. He has remained involved with football while coaching at lower levels of the game.