Chicago Bears vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers: NFL Predictions, Odds & Picks | Week 9

Sunday, November 8, 2026 · 8:20 PM ET · Soldier Field, Chicago, IL · NBC

Odds courtesy of Bet365, correct at time of writing and subject to change.

Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears have won four of their last five games and return to Soldier Field as 6.5-point favourites. Tampa Bay arrives on a two-game winning streak but is still just 3-5 on the season. That gap between a hot streak and an inconsistent overall record is the crux of this week's NFL picks Week 9 line.

Chicago Bears -6.5: -105

I'm backing Chicago Bears -6.5 at Bet365. The Bears are 6-2 and averaging 25 ppg over its last five games, while Tampa Bay's has been resurgent as of late they do not have a win over a team with a winning record this season. Caleb Williams has helped Chicago score 20 or more points in five of its last seven games and while facing pretty weak teams the Bucs have only given up 13 points in their last two games and pitched a shutout in their last game. Still, the Bears are a legit team this season and they are the team to back here.

Odds from Bet365 and Sports Interaction, correct at time of writing and subject to change.

The Chicago side

Chicago's defence has been the difference during this four-of-five run, allowing 21.4 ppg across that stretch after a rough Week 5 loss in Green Bay. Williams leads the offence, and with RB Kyle Monangai out this week (thumb, toe), D’Andre Swift will shoulder the running load again. That defensive floor and Chicago's ability to control the ground game are exactly why I expect the Bears to dictate this game from the get-go. 

The Tampa Bay side

Baker Mayfield leads a Buccaneers offence averaging 22.3 ppg this season. Tampa Bay enters on back-to-back wins, a 43-13 result at Carolina and a 16-0 shutout of Atlanta last week. Emeka Egbuka is out with a foot injury, and that will hurt a thin WR corps. That depth gap on offence is why I don't expect Tampa Bay to keep pace with Chicago on Sunday night.

Bet365	Sports Interaction
Bears Moneyline	Bears -6
-286	-112
Bet Safety Net Up To C$1,000 or Bet C$10 and Get C$50 in Bonus Bets	125% Welcome Bonus Up To C$750
Bet Now	Bet Now

Bet365 and Sports Interaction odds, correct at time of writing and subject to change.

Bet365's moneyline, de-vigged, makes Chicago a 71% favourite to Tampa Bay's 29%. I have it a little higher, 73-27, because Chicago's defensive floor at home should be enough on its own to cover without needing a dominant offensive night. The Bears are legit while it remains to be seen what Mayfield and the Bucs perform against a solid team, but I do not see them keeping it very close. 

Last 5 Games – Chicago Bears

Last 5 Games – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

I'm calling the Chicago Bears 27-17 over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday night. A 10-point margin clears the 6.5 spread, and the 44-point total finishes just under Bet365's 47.5 line rather than turning into a high-scoring affair. I don't see the Buccaneers sustaining enough drives to cover the spread. Chicago's floor at home, not a blowout, is what I'm backing.