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By Max Meyer

It was a huge week for underdogs in Week 9 of the NFL season, highlighted by three teams getting at least 7 points (Jaguars, Broncos and Titans) pulling off the outright upset. Can the Bears claw their way to join that group tonight on the road against the Steelers?

The Steelers enter this Monday night affair on a three-game winning streak. On the contrary, the Bears have dropped their past three contests, all by double digits. 

Pittsburgh opened as a 6.5-point favorite over Chicago at Caesars Sportsbook, and since then that line has slightly crept up to -7. The Steelers are -320 on the moneyline, while the Bears are priced at +250 to emerge victorious. The total hasn’t changed from its original number, as it still sits at 40.

“There might be people who see all the underdogs that won this week and jump on the Bears,” said Adam Pullen, Assistant Director of Trading at Caesars Sportsbook. “But the Bears haven’t looked that great, their offense is anemic. The Steelers played a very tough schedule to begin the season, and they’ve got momentum now. We’ll need the Steelers for sure, but it’ll be less than a normal Monday night decision given the matchup.” 

Among all spread bets for tonight’s meeting, the Steelers have the advantage in total number of tickets at 54% and total dollars wagered at 83%. That includes a Nevada bettor who staked $385,000 on Steelers -6.5 (-110) for potential winnings of $350,000, which is the largest wager taken thus far for this showdown at Caesars Sportsbook.

The underdog, though, has attracted the majority of the action on the moneyline. The Bears have drawn 72% of the total number of tickets and 51% of the total dollars wagered.

Where Caesars Sportsbook bettors are most divided, however, is on the total.

“The public will always be more inclined for prime-time, standalone games to bet the over regardless,” Pullen said. “It’s just such a low total, it doesn’t need much to happen to go over, a couple of turnovers or an easy score. You don’t see many low totals like this in the NFL anymore. But the Bears offense has struggled and the Steelers offense seems really solid.”

The over has brought in 64% of the total number of tickets, whereas the under has the edge with 57% of the total dollars wagered. A couple alternative total points markets have caught the attention of Caesars Sportsbook bettors, in particular the overs on 49.5 (+240) and 46.5 (+195).

Two player markets stand out in terms of total dollars wagered as of now—the under on Chase Claypool total receptions and Najee Harris first touchdown scorer. 

Claypool’s receptions prop currently sits at 4.5, with the under favored at -150 and the over at +120. The only player in the game with a higher receptions prop is fellow Steelers wideout Diontae Johnson at 6.5 (over +105/under -135).

Harris is atop the board for first touchdown scorer at +325, followed by three of his teammates—Johnson (+575), Claypool (+750) and Pat Freiermuth (10/1). The first Bear listed is quarterback Justin Fields at 11/1. Harris is also the only player in the game who is an odds-on favorite to reach the end zone at any point at -165.

Check out Caesars Sportsbook’s latest odds and trends for tonight’s matchup between the Bears and Steelers below. 