Bears vs Panthers Prediction 9/13/26 NFL Picks Today
Chicago Bears (0-0) vs. Carolina Panthers (0-0)
September 13, 2026 1:00 pm EDT
The Line: Carolina Panthers +2.5; Over/Under: 47.5
(Get latest betting odds)
In this article, we will formulate a Bears vs Panthers Prediction for this NFL Week 1 game on Sunday, September 13th. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this NFL matchup.
Carolina Panthers Preview
The Panthers finished the preseason with a 3-1 record and were placed 1st in the NFC South. They had a 1-0 home record and a 2-1 road record. They are coming off a 16-13 home victory over the Houston Texans, where they outgained their opponents 288 to 173 total yards and had 17 first downs. The Carolina Panthers had 189 passing yards, 99 rushing yards, while winning the turnover battle by 4-1. They went 6/17 on third down conversions and 1/4 in the red zone.
Offensively in the preseason, the Panthers averaged 24.3 points per game, while allowing 22.3 points per game defensively. Carolina averaged 313 total yards per game (201 passing and 112 rushing), while allowing 275.5 total yards per game (155 passing and 120.5 rushing).
Chicago Bears Preview
The Bears finished the preseason with a 2-1 record and were placed 3rd in the NFC North. They had a 1-0 home record and a 1-1 road record. They are coming off a 24-15 road victory over the Tennessee Titans, where they outgained their opponents 398 to 259 total yards and had 19 first downs. The Chicago Bears had 291 passing yards, 107 rushing yards, while losing the turnover battle by 1-0. They went 6/15 on third down conversions and 2/3 in the red zone.
Offensively in the preseason, the Bears averaged 22.3 points per game, while allowing 17.3 points per game defensively. Chicago averaged 383.3 total yards per game (291.7 passing and 91.7 rushing), while allowing 306.3 total yards per game (220.7 passing and 85.7 rushing).
Chicago Bears @ Carolina Panthers Betting Trends: Week 1
Why the Carolina Panthers will win
- The Bears have lost each of their last seven Sunday games played on the East Coast.
- The Panthers have won four of their last five Sunday games as underdogs.
- The Bears have failed to cover the spread in each of their last seven Sunday games played on the East Coast.
- The Panthers have covered the spread in seven of their last eight games as underdogs without Derrick Brown.
- The underdogs have won the first quarter in four of the last five games between the Bears and Panthers.
- The Bears have lost the first half in each of their last 11 road games in September.
- The Panthers have scored the first touchdown in five of their last six games as home underdogs against NFC North opponents.
Why the Chicago Bears will win
- The Panthers have lost eight of their last nine Week 1 home games against NFC opponents.
- The Bears have won seven of their last eight games against the Panthers.
- The favorites have covered the spread in eight of the Panthers’ last nine Week 1 games.
- The Panthers have failed to cover the spread in each of their last five season openers as underdogs.
- The Bears have won the first quarter in seven of their last eight Sunday games against the Panthers.
- The Bears have won the first half in seven of their last eight Sunday games against the Panthers.
- The Bears have scored the first touchdown in four of their last five road games against NFC opponents.
Total Points Facts
- Each of the Panthers’ last six games without Chuba Hubbard have gone OVER the total points line.
- Eight of the Bears’ last nine Sunday road games have gone OVER the total points line.
- Three of the last four Sunday games at Bank of America Stadium have gone UNDER the total points line.
Carolina Panthers Player Prop Facts
- Tetairoa McMillan has scored at least one touchdown in three of the Panthers’ last four regular season games as home underdogs against NFC opponents.
- Bryce Young has recorded 21+ completions in three of the Panthers’ last four games.
- John Metchie has recorded 19+ receiving yards in each of his last seven appearances on the East Coast.
- AJ Dillon has recorded 26+ rushing and receiving yards in each of his last 16 Sunday appearances with his team as an underdog.
- AJ Dillon has recorded 18+ rushing yards in each of his last 16 Sunday appearances with his team as an underdog.
- Jaycee Horn recorded the equal-most interceptions in a single game last season (2 vs Jets, Week 7).
Chicago Bears Player Prop Facts
- Caleb Williams has recorded 22+ completions in three of the Bears’ last four September road games.
- Caleb Williams has recorded 242+ passing yards in five of the Bears’ last six games.
- Cole Kmet has recorded 16+ receiving yards in each of the Bears’ last six road games against NFC South opponents.
- Kyle Monangai has recorded 33+ rushing yards in six of the Bears’ last seven regular season games.
- D’Andre Swift has scored a touchdown in each of his last four appearances in Sunday games played on the East Coast.
- Cole Kmet has recorded 16+ rushing and receiving yards in each of the Bears’ last six road games against NFC South opponents.
- Caleb Williams ranked 1st in the league for times blitzed (174) last season.
Matchup/League Facts
- Panthers – two different players recorded 80+ rushing yards in a game last season – equal-most in the NFL.
- The Panthers were the only team to overturn multiple 12+ point 2nd quarter deficits to win last season.
- Bears – two different players recorded 80+ rushing yards in a game last season – equal-most in the NFL.
- Bears – two different players recorded 90+ rushing yards in a game last season – equal-most in the NFL.
Bears vs Panthers Prediction
In this Bears vs Panthers Prediction, the Bears are coming as -2.5 road favorites. Both teams looked good in the preseason, as they had just one defeat each, with the Panthers having a slightly better offense, but a weaker defense, allowing 5 points per game more than the Bears. Chicago has been dominating Carolina in recent years, as they are 7-1 in their last 8 meetings, including two of their last three visits in Carolina. With the line being so small, I am willing to lay the -2.5 with the Bears on the road in this one.