The Chicago Bears (6-10) and Minnesota Vikings (7-9) close out their disappointing 2021 seasons when they meet at 1 p.m. ET Sunday at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Below, we look at the Vikings vs. Bears odds and lines, and make our best NFL picks, predictions and bets.
Two teams that finished the 2020 season on the same field with the winner going to playoffs (Chicago) and the loser going home (Minnesota) are now closing out non-playoff seasons that could see both of their head coaches fired.
Both teams have COVID-related question marks, as the Bears will be forced to stick with a banged-up QB Andy Dalton, while Minnesota currently has three starters (including two offensive linemen) still in the COVID protocol at the end of Friday’s practice.
Also see: Bet Slippin’ Podcast: NFL Week 18 picks and predictions
Bears at Vikings odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 4:45 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Bears +170 (bet $100 to win $170) | Vikings -210 (bet $210 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Bears +4.5 (-115) | Vikings -4.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 44.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)
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Bears at Vikings key injuries
Bears
- QB Justin Fields (COVID) out
- DT Akiem Hicks (ankle) out
- LB Robert Quinn (shoulder) questionable
- DT Eddie Goldman (finger) questionable
- DB Duke Shelley (heel) questionable
Vikings
- DT Michael Pierce (illness) doubtful
- CB Mackensie Alexander (ankle) questionable
- CB Kris Boyd (ribs) questionable
- LB Eric Kendricks (COVID) questionable
- G Wyatt Davis (illness) questionable
Let’s Make This Interesting
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Bears at Vikings odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Vikings 23, Bears 20
Money line
The Bears have been a thorn in Minnesota’s side, winning all three games at US Bank Stadium during Matt Nagy’s tenure. It will be critical for the Bears to get after Vikings QB Kirk Cousins because he is awful when he has pressure in his face.
But with Hicks out and Quinn and Goldman as question marks, Cousins should get enough time to get the team in scoring position enough to win.
If I was going to bet on this, I’d place a small bet on the Bears given their recent track record on the road in this series at nearly twice the payout for investment.
But the smart move is to AVOID.
Against the spread
The same rationale applies here. The Bears don’t struggle on the road against their division rival, and, despite having an offense that has sputtered much of the season, the Vikings’ run defense has been among the worst in the league.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see Bears RB David Montgomery run 20-25 times and Chicago scoring enough points to cover the 4.5 point spread.
BET the BEARS +4.5 (-115)
Over/Under
Given the disparity in the betting lines, the belief is that this game will go Over, but I’m not as convinced as the oddsmakers.
The Bears are going to try to grind the ball against a defense that struggles to stop it and Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer was fuming over not giving RB Dalvin Cook the ball enough in a blowout loss to Green Bay last week.
Look for Cook and Montgomery to both be front and center in the respective game plans, which will take 40 seconds off the clock every time they run and make it more difficult to hit 44 points.
They’ll come close, but take the UNDER 44.5 (-112)
Also see: NFL Week 18 odds and lines
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