Bears are a strong bet to win more games than projected in 2022

The Bears' 2022 over/under win total was set at 6.5 after the release of this year's NFL schedule. Double-digit losses are anticipated for Chicago this fall. ESPN's Courtney Cronin wouldn't be surprised, she doesn't view this Bears team as one that can contend for the NFC North.

"The NFC North is more open than in years past, but Chicago isn't a team currently built to contend for the playoffs, let alone a division title," Cronin wrote. "The Bears will play 13 straight games before they get a week off late in the season. If they want to hit the over, they might have to rely on their defense to carry the load with some early wins as Justin Fields builds chemistry with his new teammates during the early portion of the schedule."

Chicago Bears' 2022 win total could be higher than expected

However, a closer look at Chicago's schedule suggests there may be reason for hope.

The Bears' first four games include two favorable matchups against the Houston Texans and New York Giants. Chicago's season-opener is at home against a San Francisco 49ers team in transition, too. That's three winnable games in the first month of the season that, if things go right for the Bears, could get them to nearly half of their projected win total by mid-October.

The Bears' stretch of games between Weeks 9 and 11 could also produce at least two or three wins. They face the Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, and Atlanta Falcons over those three weeks. It's reasonable and certainly within the range of outcomes to predict the Bears will go 3-0 over that span.

Add a game against the Washington Commanders, another one against the Lions, and a matchup against the New York Jets, and the Bears' 2022 schedule -- which is one of the easiest in the NFL -- will put them in a position to exceed Las Vegas' prediction. Barring a worst-case season from Fields, the Bears are a solid bet to win at least seven games, making the over a solid wager in 2022.