If the Vikings are looking ahead to their showdown with Green Bay in the regular season finale, it could be costly and make that game meaningless. Minnesota has lost three of four and was trounced in its last two home games. The Bears are looking forward to getting out of Chicago after another horrible loss last week. Chicago is 3-0 SU and ATS in its last three road games.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Minnesota Vikings -5
Chicago Bears +5
Over/Under 43
ODDS ANALYSIS
Chicago has been a much better team on the road winning its last three both SU and ATS. Overall the Bears are 4-2 SU and 5-1 ATS away from Soldier Field. Minnesota has been blown out in each of its last two home games and dropped three of four overall. The Vikes covered as 10-point dogs in Arizona and are 10-3 ATS this season. The line was wagered to Minnesota -5.5 with the total dropping to 42.5.
KEY INJURIES
Will Sutton – Chicago’s defensive lineman limped off the field in the third quarter last week, but eventually returned.
Pernell McPhee – Was inactive against Washington with a knee injury and will be reevaluated this week. Chicago’s top defensive player is questionable to play Sunday after missing his second game of the season.
Andrew Sendejo – The safety was one of four defensive starters to miss last Thursday’s game at Arizona and according to Vikings coach Mike Zimmer is the one closest to returning. Safety Harrison Smith, linebacker Anthony Barr and lineman Linval Joseph all sat out the loss and are questionable to play against Chicago.
KEY MISMATCH
The Vikings actually felt pretty good about themselves despite a second consecutive defeat and having lost three of their past four games. They made sure Adrian Peterson got his touches after the star running back was critical of the coaching staff. Four days after getting eight carries and finishing with just 18 rushing yards, AP had 23 rushes against Arizona. More importantly, Teddy Bridgewater and the offense may have found a way to keep the chains moving when teams stack the box in an effort to shut down Peterson. Bridgewater had the Cards’ fourth-ranked defense guessing and on its toes by using a series of quarterback waggle plays and connecting with wide-open targets five to 10 yards downfield. He wound up completing 25 of 36 passes for a career-high 335 yards.
KEY STAT
45.7 – Minnesota’s opponent red zone scoring percentage. The Vikings are fourth in the NFL and face a Bears offense that ranks 27th in scoring touchdowns once inside the opponents 20-yard-line.
BETTING ANGLE
I’m sure you’ve heard this before. The Bears come out flat and fall behind early. They commit a bunch of penalties. Rally late and have a legitimate chance to win or send the game to overtime. Stumble in the final moments and ultimately lose in crushing fashion. Good teams find ways to win. Lately, Chicago is finding creative ways to lose. The Bears are 5-5 since losing their first three games, but those losses have been heartbreaking. They’ve come by a combined 17 points with four of the games decided by a field goal or less. Four of those games were played at home. Getting out of Soldier Field might just be what the Bears need. After losing for the sixth time in seven home games with last week’s 24-21 decision against Washington, the Bears hit the road where they’ve won three straight and are 4-2 SU and 5-1 ATS this season.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
The Bears have been close, losing their last five by a combined total of 17 points. They’re also fearless on the road with a 4-2 SU and 5-1 ATS record, so this is a scary game for Minnesota. The Vikings can claim the NFC North by winning out but they have hit a rough patch, losing three of their past four games and several key defensive players. Minnesota showed some fight last Thursday in Arizona, battling back with a chance to win or send the game into overtime before a strip-sack cost them. Peterson has had some of his best games against the Bears and he ran for 103 when the Vikings came back for a win at Soldier Field earlier this season. The Vikes will get the win to stay within striking distance of the Packers in the division but the Bears get a cover.
Minnesota 23, Chicago 21
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