NFL - Chicago (7-3) at Oakland (6-4)

Sky Sports, Sunday November 27th, 9.15pm

Another missing QB, but this replacement is potentially more capable in the NFL. Caleb Hanie has been around the organisation and its offense long enough, and has the skill set to keep Chicago’s five game winning streak going; but it will be a tough ask in a hostile Black Hole. Hanie went 13 for 20 for 153 yards a TD and an INT against the Packers in the NFC Championship Game last January, so he can get it done.

Teams have to respect Matt Forte, who will see the ball a lot (he has 40% of Chicago’s total yards this season) either running up against a hobbled Richard Seymour, or catching out of the backfield (he has the most receptions for the Bears) against the ponderous Oakland LBs – and that should give Hanie precious time against an aggressive Raiders pass rush – look for Kamerion Wimbley off the edge and Desmond Bryant and Tommy Kelly up the middle.

The Bears have kept Cutler upright this season, and the Raiders are banged up elsewhere on the D line, but it will still be a challenge for Chicago to click on offense. For TD purposes, Marion Barber is still getting the goal-line carries.

Out wide, Earl Bennett (averaging 83.7 yards per game since coming back from injury) Johnny Knox, Roy Williams and Devin Hester give Hanie options – and Hester will be his usual threat on returns – but Oakland’s secondary is solid, particularly Stanford Routt at CB, so monitor Forte’s progress closely if you bet in-running, because if he doesn’t fare well, or the Bears fall behind early, things will get even more difficult for Chicago. Bennett will be a favourite target in the slot, allowing Hanie to get the ball out quickly.

On the other side of the ball, Chicago will have to deal with Carson Palmer and Michael Bush – two of the biggest surprises to come out of the West in a while. I have to be honest, I thought Palmer would struggle more than he has after his difficult start and today he’ll go up against a talented secondary with several of his wideouts injured or out.

The Bears need to get to the QB more often, but still represent a threat along the line; Palmer was sacked four times last time out, and Chicago are adept at manufacturing takeaways (a plus 11 ratio this season) so he’ll need to lean heavily on Michael Bush who has carried the load admirably, to the tune of 599 yards and 6 TDs, since McFadden went down.

The problem for Bush is that Chicago have become tougher and tougher to run on as the season has gone on(restricting opposing teams to 80 yards or less on the ground in the last five games) and if he can’t get going, there’s every chance the Raiders’ O will stall. Look for Bush taking on Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher; it may decide this game.

Deeper, Palmer has few options left fit to try and exploit corners and safeties that occasionally struggle in coverage, particularly where the receivers have pace, and it may fall to guys like Louis Murphy, Kevin Boss and Chaz Schilens to step up, so check the injury reports carefully before kick off to see if Denarius Moore, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Jacoby Ford are playing; even if they do go though, they’re likely to be limited.

The line opened at 4.5 and has come in to just a field goal, and I’m not surprised. I like the Bears’ opportunistic defense to be the difference here: I’ll take the points.

Pick: Bears +3 @ 1.91; -110; 10/11

Pick: 1^st TD Marion Barber @ 13; 1200; 12/1

Denarius Moore @ 11; 1000; 10/1

Pick: Anytime TD EarlBennett @ 3.4; 240; 12/5