The Minnesota Vikings (12-4) try to keep a slim chance of moving from the No. 3 seed to the No. 2 seed in the NFC when they travel to Soldier Field to play the Chicago Bears (3-13) with a 1 p.m. Sunday kickoff (FOX). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Vikings at Bears odds, and make our expert NFL picks and predictions.
Each of the Vikings’ 4 losses have been humbling, double-digit blowouts, including being bludgeoned last week by the Green Bay Packers 41-17 in a game that wasn’t close. Minnesota’s losses have been so pronounced that they need to beat the Bears by 20 to have scored more points than they’ve allowed — and they would be 13-4!
The Vikings are down to their 3rd center and lost their best offensive lineman (RT Brian O’Neill) with an Achilles injury last week. Knowing they’re in the playoffs might get them thinking about pulling starters regardless of the outcome.
The Bears have more to gain by losing than winning, which explains why arguably the worst QB in the history of the game (Nathan Peterman of 3-TD, 13-INT career number fame) will get the start.
Chicago has lost 9 straight and 12 of their last 13. While they clearly won’t be looking for a QB in the draft, if the Bears lose and the Texans win Sunday, Chicago will have the No. 1 pick and teams with QB needs will have to go through them to get the pick away from them.
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Vikings at Bears odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 11:28 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Vikings -350 (bet $100 to win $350) | Bears +290 (bet $100 to win $290)
- Against the spread (ATS): Vikings -7.5 (-109) | Bears +7.5 (-111)
- Over/Under (O/U): 42.5 (O: -113 | U: -107)
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Vikings at Bears key injuries
Vikings
- C Garrett Bradbury (back) questionable
- DL James Lynch (shoulder) questionable
Bears
- QB Justin Fields (hip) out
- DB Kyler Gordon (groin) questionable
- CB Jaylon Jones (concussion) questionable
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Vikings at Bears picks and predictions
Prediction
Vikings 27, Bears 13
Moneyline
PASS.
Any team with a defense drawing Peterman needs to have a return on investment so small it’s not worth wasting your time. To bet on the Vikings gives you 30 percent return. Nobody should ever take that bet. If you do, go in your backyard and set $50 on fire and walk away.
Against the spread
TAKE VIKINGS -7.5 (-109)
Minnesota’s pass defense is a dumpster fire, but Peterman is inept. Of Minnesota’s 12 wins, only 3 of them have been by more than this number, and those were in their 1st 7 games and 2 of them were by 8 points.
The Vikings need to head to the playoffs with some swagger to them. All 3 units stunk against Green Bay. The Bears are a good team to try to get something positive going. I just can’t shake the benefit of Chicago losing — finishing with no less than the No. 2 pick and potentially the No. 1 pick if Houston steps up and doesn’t roll over to the hapless Colts.
There is so much to gain by Chicago losing, it’s hard not to see them willing to struggle. That may explain why the spread went from 6 on Wednesday to 7.5 on Thursday. That’s a point-and-a-half that is huge on betting lines.
Over/Under
TAKE THE UNDER (-107)
The Bears have it under 42.5 points in each of their last 4 games. The Vikings are looking to win, but, if they get a double-digit lead, it will become a lot of Alexander Mattison running the ball.
The Over appears to be the bet of choice, but 2 teams just wanting to get a game over tends to lead to the Under. This has a old-timey preseason feel to it more than a bloodbath in the Black and Blue Division.
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