Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears Odds and Game Pick (2020)
At 3-5, the Minnesota Vikings are still unlikely to make the NFC playoffs. There are eight teams ahead of them in the NFC playoff picture. This includes the NFC East-leading Philadelphia Eagles, who have a sub-.500 record, but the Vikings still have a lot of work to do to get a playoff spot.
The team closest to the Vikings in the NFC North is the 5-4 Chicago Bears. The Vikings could pull within half a game of Chicago if they win this game on Monday night. If Minnesota prevails, it would still have a shot at the postseason. If the Vikings don’t beat the Bears, forget about it. They’re done.
This is a must-win moment for the Vikings, and we’ll see if they can rise to the challenge in prime time.
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Details
Opening Line: Bears -2
Current Line: Vikings -3
Over/Under: 43.5
Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
Start Time: 8:15 p.m. ET (Monday Night Football)
Last Meeting: Bears 21, Vikings 19 (12/20/19)
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MIN
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-3
-105
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o43.5
-105
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-154
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CHI
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+3
-115
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u43.5
-115
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+130
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View consensus picks from top betting experts for Vikings vs. Bears >>
Overview
The Vikings are playing good football right now. The problem is that they started 1-5, which means that a two-game winning streak still has them underwater at 3-5. Minnesota blew a lead at Seattle in a game it should have won. The Vikings also stumbled at home against the Atlanta Falcons and lost a squeaker to the Tennessee Titans.
Those early-season setbacks put them in a big hole. Now they have no margin for error, but at least they’re beginning to look like the team many expected them to be before the season started.
Minnesota won at Green Bay with a dominant and efficient offense which gained lots of first downs, kept the ball away from Aaron Rodgers, and rarely punted. The great aspect of the Vikings’ offense is that quarterback Kirk Cousins isn’t asked to do too much. Running back Dalvin Cook is carrying the group. He returned in time to destroy the Packers for 226 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns, and he carried over that momentum into last Sunday’s win with 252 yards and two scores over the Detroit Lions. Cook’s monster performances give the Vikings hope that they can stay hot and make a run at the playoffs.
The Bears, on the other hand, have lost three in a row after starting 5-1. They have faced a tough schedule, playing the Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints, and Tennessee Titans, all teams with winning records. While the Vikings don’t have a winning record, they have considerable talent. This won’t be an easy assignment, especially since the Bears are not fully healthy right now.
Chicago learned earlier this week that defensive tackle Roy Robertson-Harris is out for the season with an injury. That’s a loss of production and depth. It is also the kind of injury that will make it easier for opposing offenses to focus on countering Khalil Mack. Robertson-Harris was a solid quality lineman who demanded attention away from Mack. Now the Bears’ defense has to readjust.
On offense, Chicago running back David Montgomery has been in concussion protocol. His status for this game is uncertain. These injuries are why the Bears went from a two-point favorite to a 2.5-point underdog.
Trends
- Minnesota is 5-1 ATS in its last six games.
- Minnesota is 5-2 ATS in its last seven games against the NFC North.
- Chicago is 4-1 ATS in its last five games against NFC opponents.
Bottom Line
The Vikings have won two straight and the Bears have lost three straight, but the 2020 Vikings have not won the most important games on their schedule. Cousins has fallen short in big games. Meanwhile, despite injuries, the Bears have a strong defense. They were good enough to beat Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as home underdogs earlier this season. If they can defeat the Bucs, they can certainly handle the Vikings.
Pick: Bears +3
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