In the final iteration of the NFL regular season, the Minnesota Vikings (-6) are preparing to play host to the Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium. This pivotal NFC North showdown is scheduled to get underway at 4:25 p.m. ET and fans can catch it live by tuning in to FOX.
Week 17 Betting Preview: Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears
The Bears enter into this Sunday NFC game as the dog here and they’re currently getting 6 points. The Bears are also receiving +190 moneyline odds while the Vikings are -230. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 41 points. If Minnesota gets behind early, it’ll probably create a nice live betting opportunity.
Sharp bettors are leaning toward the Vikes. This opening line was initially -4 while the game’s total was originally set at 41.5.
Both of these teams have rewarded gamblers this year as the Bears have gained 5.0 units and the Vikings are up 3.4 units.
The Bears have gone 11-4 straight up (SU), including 4-1 SU against NFC North opponents. The Vikings are 8-6-1 SU overall and 3-1 SU against divisional foes.
The Bears just recorded a 14-9 victory over San Francisco last week where Mitchell Trubisky completed 25 passes on 29 attempts for 246 yards and one touchdown. Jordan Howard (53 rushing yards on 13 attempts, one TD) led the ground attack while Allen Robinson II (six receptions, 85 yards) and Trey Burton (five catches, 30 yards) handled the receiving duties in the win.
Minnesota is coming off of a 27-9 win over Detroit in Week 16. Kirk Cousins completed 21-of-28 passes for 253 yards and three touchdowns. Dalvin Cook (73 rushing yards on 16 attempts) mounted the running game while Kyle Rudolph (nine receptions, 122 yards, two TDs) and Adam Thielen (five catches, 80 yards) led the pass-catching attack in the win.
Chicago has run the ball on 47.0 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Minnesota has a rush percentage of 37.4 percent. The Bears have produced 117.9 rush yards per game (including 95.8 per game versus North opponents) and have 13 scores on the ground this year. The Vikes are averaging 95.3 rushing yards per game (81.8 in conference) and have nine total rush TDs.
The Bears offensive scheme has logged 238.9 yards per contest in the air overall (232.8 per game against conference opposition) and has 28 passing scores so far. The Vikes have produced 277.7 pass yards per outing (289 in the NFC) and have 29 total pass TDs.
Defensively, Chicago has allowed 81.1 rush yards and 248.1 pass yards per game. The Minnesota D has given up 222.5 yards per game to opposing passers and 109.7 yards per game on the ground. The Bears are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 4.17 to opponents, while the Vikes have given up a 5.19 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Trubisky has put up 2,825 yards this year, and has connected on 251-of-380 attempts with 22 scores through the air and 12 interceptions. He has a 6.41 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 8.64 over the past two games.
The Bears will probably try to maintain the clock by getting the ball into the hands of their running backs. In addition to receiver Allen Robinson II (700 receiving yards and four touchdowns), Jordan Howard (766 rush yards, six rush TDs, 125 receiving yards) and Tarik Cohen (396 rush yards, two rush TDs, 686 receiving yards, four receiving TDs) have really been focal points in the Chicago offensive scheme.
On the other sideline, Kirk Cousins has completed 391-of-552 passes for 3,951 yards, 27 TDs and nine INTs. Cousins’ ANY/A stands at 6.61 for the season and 9.30 over his last two games.
The Vikes also like to keep their backfield featured. In addition to Dalvin Cook (257 receiving yards, two receiving TDs), Kyle Rudolph (592 receiving yards and four receiving TDs) and Adam Thielen (31 rush yards, 1,316 receiving yards, nine TDs) have seen quite a few action lately.
Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings Free Prediction
SU Winner: Vikings, ATS Winner: Vikings, O/U: Under
Betting Trends
- The Over/Under for Chicago’s previous game was set at 44. The under cashed in the team’s 14-9 triumph over San Francisco.
- Chicago has averaged 4.2 yards per rush attempt over its last three outings and 3.3 over its last two.
- Minnesota has averaged 4.5 yards per carry over its last three games and 4.7 over its last two.
- Both teams have lost 10 fumbles this season.
- In its last three games, Chicago is 3-0 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
- Chicago has won nine of its last 10 games SU, with a December 2nd defeat to New York representing the only loss over that stretch.
- The Over/Under for Minnesota’s last outing was set at 41.5. The under cashed in that 27-9 win over Detroit.
- Over its last three games, Minnesota is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The Bears offense has registered 10 pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Vikings have put up seven such plays.
- Both teams have allowed nine pass plays of 40 or more yards. The Chicago defense has given up 17 pass plays of 30+ yards while Minnesota has permitted 19 such plays.
- The Chicago offense has created 16 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Minnesota has created 12 such runs.
- The Bears defense has allowed six rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Vikings have given up five such runs.
- The Minnesota defense has tallied 50 sacks on the year while Chicago has 46.
