Bernstein & Holmes: Is Bears' wins total of 8.5 a trap by Vegas?

(670 The Score) Vegas oddsmakers set the new-look Bears’ wins total at 8.5 for the 2024 season, and it remains there.

As money has come in on the Bears’ over, the line has adjusted to force bettors to pay more juice for the over 8.5. But Vegas hasn’t shifted the Bears’ baseline win total upward.

So could that be a trap? Does Vegas think the Bears are going to disappoint the majority of the public?

“I’m getting concerned about it now,” BetQL Daily host Joe Ostrowski said on the Bernstein & Holmes Show on Friday. “I mentioned a while back, I liked it at eight-and-a-half, and that’s when there wasn’t any juice. It was pretty much even on both sides, and now there’s a lot of juice on the over.”

Ostrowski doesn’t believe betting -150 or so odds on the Bears’ over 8.5 wins carries much value. He suggested anyone who’s interested get more creative.

“I wouldn’t take bets like that,” Ostrowski said. “I wouldn’t lay -150. I’m not interested in that. If you love the Bears, find something else to do."

Ostrowski then suggested if you’re really confident in the Bears, bet them to win the NFC North or go over 9.5 wins to get more value.