Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings odds picks and predictions

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We head into Week 15 of the 2024 NFL regular season with a full slate of games Sunday, and 2 Monday night contests. Bye weeks are now in the rear-view mirror, and we have a full slate for the remainder of the schedule.

We were looking for a third consecutive 3-game parlay win, and everything went swimmingly through the afternoon games on Sunday. It wasn’t until the Sunday Night Football game that the winning ways came to a close.

The Carolina Panthers (+13) are playing competitive football again, and that was on display against the Philadelphia Eagles this past Sunday. Carolina not only was able to grab the cover as a double-digit underdog, but it nearly pulled off the upset.

The Eagles were able to pull off the 22-16 victory at home, but the Panthers certainly gave them all they could handle.

In the second game, the Seattle Seahawks (+2.5) didn’t need the points in the desert against the Arizona Cardinals. Seattle won 16-6 at home in the drizzle 2 weeks ago against Arizona, and it went down to State Farm Stadium in Glendale and won for the seventh straight time in the series in Week 14.

In controlled environmental conditions, we saw higher scores and offensive production, but the result was the same. RB Zach Charbonnet led Seattle to a 30-18 win to keep pace in the NFC West.

So, on SNF, we just needed the Kansas City Chiefs (-4) to cover. If you’ve been betting regularly in the NFL this season, you know that’s actually been a tall order.

The Chiefs fired out to a 13-0 lead at halftime and we were feeling good. However, the LA Chargers stormed back in the third quarter, easily their best quarter of the game, taking a 14-13 lead to the fourth. While Kansas City got the job done with a field goal at the buzzer to win it 19-17, it was a disappointing non-cover.

Let’s get it back in Week 15 and build that bankroll for the upcoming holidays.

After looking at BetMGM Sportsbook’s NFL Week 15 odds, here is our “Winner winner chicken dinner” NFL parlay bet to cash in on among SportsbookWire’s NFL expert picks and predictions.

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Winner winner chicken dinner NFL parlay

WEEK 15

Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of NFL odds. Lines last updated Thursday at 11:15 p.m. ET. All games Sunday and ET.

Leg 1: Bengals -5 (-110) at Titans – 1 p.m. (FOX)

The Cincinnati Bengals (5-8) battle the Tennessee Titans (3-10) in an early-window game on the road in Week 15.

The Bengals kept their postseason hopes alive, just barely, with a 27-20 win on the road against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football. It took a miscue on special teams by the Cowboys, and a long scoring strike from QB Joe Burrow to WR Ja’Marr Chase with 61 seconds left in regulation, to pull out the miracle win and cover in Week 14.

The Titans are a tough team, believe it or not, despite that ugly 3-10 record. This is a team with a surprisingly effective defense, allowing just 291.8 total yards, 175.5 passing yards and 116.3 rushing yards per game. Yet, despite that, Tennessee somehow allows 26.3 PPG.

Titans QB Will Levis hasn’t been the answer, and anyone who watched college football a few years ago knew he wasn’t a first-round pick in the NFL, yet here we are. He could be a serviceable backup somewhere, but he isn’t him.

The Tennessee offense has been abysmal, although RB Tony Pollard and WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine have been bright spots.

If you like the Bengals and their powerful, high-octane offense, you will still be sweating it out because of Cincinnati’s leaky defense frittering away leads. In the end, though, it should work itself out.

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Leg 2: BRONCOS -4 (-110) vs. Colts – 4:25 p.m. (CBS)

The Denver Broncos (8-5) host the Indianapolis Colts (6-7) in a battle with plenty of AFC playoff implications.

The Broncos ride in on a 3-game win streak, while covering 4 in a row. Denver is also 6-1 against the spread (ATS) in the past 7 games, while going 9-2 ATS in the previous 11 contests.

Broncos rookie QB Bo Nix didn’t look like he would be the guy early on, as he was a turnover machine. However, coach Sean Payton stuck with the first-year signal caller, and now the Denver offense is rolling. In the past 3 games, the Broncos have galloped for 29 or more points in 3 straight contests, including a 41-32 victory in Week 13 against the Cleveland Browns.

The Broncos will be well rested after coming off a bye in Week 14. Meanwhile, the Colts are just 2-4 SU in the past 6 games, while going 1-4 ATS in the previous 5.

Look for the Broncos win this horse race by plenty of lengths.

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Leg 3: BEARS +7 (-115) at Vikings – Monday, 8 p.m. (ABC/ESPN+)

The Chicago Bears (4-9) meet the Minnesota Vikings (11-2) in the first game of a Monday Night Football doubleheader in Week 15.

The Bears have dropped 7 in a row, but they’ve lost 3 of the past 4 games by only 1 score.

These teams met in Chitown in Week 12, and the Bears nearly picked up a miraculous win. Down 27-16 with 1:56 to go in regulation, they scored a touchdown with a 2-point conversion with 22 seconds left to pull to within 27-24. Chicago recovered an onside kick, and PK Cairo Santos forced OT with a 48-yard field goal at the buzzer.

However, Chicago went 3 and out in what turned out to be ex-coach Matt Eberflus’ penultimate game at the helm. The Vikings won it on a field goal from PK John Parker Romo, who is also no longer with the team. PK Will Reichard is back from injured reserve.

The Vikings are 3-4-1 ATS in past 8 games, and they haven’t covered in consecutive games since opening 5-0 ATS in the first 5 games. Minnesota covered in a 42-21 revenge game win over QB Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons last week.

PARLAY CARD

BENGALS -5 (-110) at Titans
BRONCOS -4 (-110) vs. Colts
BEARS +7 (-115) at Vikings

Parlay payout: Bet $10 to profit $58.14 (payout = $68.14).

Try out the USA TODAY Parlay Calculator.

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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

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Week 6 of the NFL season has arrived and it’s time to take a look at good underdog bets for the week.

Week 5 was good for the underdog. Seven dogs (out of 14 games) covered the spread and 6 won outright.

Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook NFL odds and lines, and tab the best NFL Week 6 underdog bets to cash in on among SportbookWire’s NFL expert picks and predictions.

Last week, only 1 of my 3 underdog picks hit, winning outright. The Arizona Cardinals lost at home 34-20 to Cincinnati, not even covering the 3-point spread. My pick of the Houston Texans didn’t win at Atlanta, though they covered the 2.5-point spread in a 21-19 loss.

The Chicago Bears were my lone winner with a 40-20 upset victory Thursday at Washington — they were 6-point underdogs.

Overall, my picks are 9-6 through 5 weeks.

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NFL underdog predictions: Week 6

Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 9:43 p.m. ET. All games Sunday and ET unless noted.

Vikings at BEARS (+125) – 1 p.m. (FOX)

The Bears (1-4) have come alive offensively, putting up 28 against Denver in Week 4 and then 40 vs. Washington last week.

Minnesota (1-4) has reached 28 points only once this season and has allowed 27 or more in 3 of its last 4 games.

Bears QB Justin Fields has 4 TD passes in each of his last 2 games.

Vikings WR Justin Jefferson is on injured reserve. He is their best offensive player.

This is a great spot for the Bears, who are at home and have had extra days of rest thanks to the Week 5 Thursday night game.

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COMMANDERS +2.5 (-110) at Falcons – 1 p.m. (CBS)

As mentioned above, the Commanders (2-3) had their doors blown off 40-20 by the Bears. They’ve now lost 3 in a row, allowing 37.0 points per game (PPG) — giving up 37 to Buffalo in Week 3 and 34 to Philadelphia in Week 4.

Atlanta (3-2) has averaged 11.3 PPG over the last 3 but is undefeated at home for the season at 3-0. Two of Atlanta’s 3 wins have been by fewer than 3 points.

The Commanders have scored 30 or more twice this season.

Atlanta’s methodical run game won’t keep up but expect the Falcons to keep it close.

Saints at TEXANS (+105) – 1 p.m. (FOX)

Don’t be fooled by the Saints’ 34-0 win at the seemingly hapless Patriots last week. Prior to that game, New Orleans (3-2) had not scored more than 20 in a game, averaging 15.5 PPG through the first 4.

The Texans (2-3) have not allowed more than 21 points in their last 3 contests, and they’ve scored 30 or more in 2 of their last 3 games.

Houston QB C.J. Stroud ranks 3rd in passing yards (1,461) — behind Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa (1,614) and Minnesota’s Kirk Cousins (1,498) — and has the offense moving.