Monday Night Football Picks: Chicago Bears vs Minnesota Vikings
Week 12 might be the most fun of them all so far this season. I suppose it is hard to beat Week 1 in the NFL, but for Week 12, we have 3 Thanksgiving Day division games, a division game on Black Friday, along with your regularly scheduled Sunday and Monday Night Football games.
The final game of the week is another division rivalry game between two resurgent squads.
The Chicago Bears are absolutely thrilled to have Justin Fields back at the helm. They are still quite far from being a complete football team. Their defense is possibly the most underrated in the league.
Their stats and points allowed are skewed this year because the Bears have had backups playing. The production from the backup Tyson Bagent has been virtually non-existent. Even the best defenses in the league get tired and underperform when they are on the field for 40+ minutes.
Chicago has Fields back, and that’s why this betting line is as close as it is.
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Bears vs Vikings Betting Odds
Point Spread
Chicago: +3.5 (-110)
Minnesota: -3.5 (-110)
The Minnesota Vikings had one of the best passing attacks in the league when Captain Kirk Cousins was under center. The veteran is officially hurt, though. The team made a quick trade for Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Dobbs and haven’t looked back.
I like the line here on the Chicago Bears. These two teams played one another about a month ago, and it was an ugly game. The Vikings won, 19-13, but that was when Cousins was playing and Fields wasn’t.
The backup Bagent threw for a whopping 83 yards with zero touchdowns and 1 interception.
Moneyline
Chicago: +155
Minnesota: -175
The statistic from their first meeting that leaps off the page is not from the passing game. Bagent never got it going against anyone this year.
It’s the running game. The Bears’ run defense is their biggest strength on that side of the ball, and they held the Minnesota Vikings to just 46 yards on the ground. This is while they racked up over 160 on their own.
They were nearly quadrupled up on the ground, and the Vikings were up 19-6 heading into the 4th quarter. The Vikings somehow got the victory. That one can be chalked up entirely to the backup quarterback.
Point Spread
Over 43: -110
Under 43: -110
This point total is rather low. However, for a divisional primetime game in 2023, it looks about right. These two managed only 32 in their first meeting in October.
I have a better read on a side for this Sunday night game than playing the over or the under.
Bears vs Vikings Betting Analysis
If 2023 has taught the Chicago Bears anything, it's that Justin Fields is their franchise quarterback. Not now, but at some point, I think he can be just as good as Lamar Jackson, if not better.
He has a long way to go, though.
As for the Minnesota QB, Dobbs is a different animal than Cousins. He will be able to extend plays with his feet, which the aging Cousins could never do. If the Vikings can't move the ball on the ground, though, they are up Schlitz Creek without a bottle opener.
Bears vs Vikings Betting Prediction
As for our prediction, I don't know how you can lay 3.5 with the Vikings. I like the Chicago Bears to win this one outright. However, if they do fall short, being on the right side of the key number of 3 is convenient.
Take the Bears at (+3.5). They are more than likely going to control the running game on both sides of the ball. Give me that along with the 3 points and the hook on the underdog, and you have a bet.
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