The Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers will kick off their 2026 NFL seasons in Charlotte, with both franchises aiming to replicate the unexpected success they found in 2025.
Both teams concluded their previous seasons with close, last-minute home playoff losses to the Los Angeles Rams. However, each squad significantly surpassed expectations, raising the bar for their respective fanbases.
Sportsbooks initially set the spread at Bears -2.5, with the line moving to Bears -3 at BetMGM. The over/under opened at 45.5 and has since climbed to 47 as kickoff approaches.
A notable parallel between the two teams lies at the quarterback position. Bryce Young was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, while Caleb Williams was selected first overall in 2024. Both players saw their draft classes heavily influenced by other quarterbacks who made immediate impacts as rookies – C.J. Stroud in 2023 and Jayden Daniels in 2024. In the past season, both Young and Williams emerged as leaders, guiding their teams to division titles.
While sensational throws and game-winning comebacks defined the Bears' season, their underlying flaws were also apparent. The defense, despite leading the NFL in interceptions, ranked 29th in total yards and 23rd in points allowed. These offensive heroics were necessary to compensate for a defense that exhibited a boom-or-bust performance.
For the Panthers, Young delivered his best season to date, and receiver Tetairoa McMillan emerged as a standout. Despite these offensive strengths, the team averaged only 18.3 points per game. Their defense finished in the middle of the pack in both yards (16th) and points allowed (15th), but struggled with pressure, ranking second-to-last in pressure percentage.
Malik Smith, a sports betting industry veteran since 2017 with a focus on NBA and combat sports, notes a trend in these matchups. The Panthers have performed strongly as home underdogs since the 2024 season, holding a 10-5 record against the spread. Based on these observations, Smith anticipates the Panthers will put up a significant fight in the season opener and remain within the point spread, predicting the Panthers +3 (-102, BetMGM) as his best bet.