It’s a classic NFC North battle on Sunday as the Minnesota Vikings welcome the Chicago Bears to U.S. Bank Stadium for NFL betting action.
Both clubs come into Week 15 with matching 6-7 records. The Vikings are 5-2 SU in their last seven but are coming off a humbling 26-14 loss to the Buccaneers last week.
Chicago, on the other hand, halted their six-game skid with a Mitch Trubisky-led 36-7 win against the Texans.
Minnesota squeaked out a 19-13 win against the Bears back in November, and opened as 3.5-point NFL odds favorites (46 O/U) with -3 available at some books.
Here are our NFL free picks and predictions for Bears vs Vikings on Sunday, December 20 (1:00 p.m. ET).
Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings Betting Preview
Weather
Sunday’s game will be played indoors at the U.S. Bank Stadium. Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions for other matchups with our NFL weather info.
Key Injuries
Bears: Jaylon Johnson CB (Out), Buster Skrine CB (Out), Deon Bush S (Out).
Vikings: Eric Kendricks LB (Out), Kyle Rudolph TE (Out), Kris Boyd CB (Out).
Find our latest NFL injury reports.
Betting Trend to Know
The Over is 7-1 in the Vikings’ last eight home games. Find more NFL betting trends for Bears vs. Vikings.
Against the Spread (ATS) Pick
Minnesota has been favored in all but one of their seven home games this year, but is 2-5 ATS in those games. The Vikings have been scoring 29.1 points at home, but when you’re conceding 30.9 per game on your own soil, it isn’t a recipe for success.
The Vikings have been banged up defensively all year and have five defensive backs either questionable or out. Bigger than that is the status of starting linebacker Eric Kendricks. Kendricks is the leader of this defense and missed last week’s game after the bye, which is not a good sign for his Week 15 availability.
Since taking his starting job back, QB Mitch Trubisky is averaging 30 points an outing. The Bears may be 1-2 SU (1-2 ATS) in those games, but this offense has finally found some life.
Speaking of life, this once-stout Bears defense had been getting run over for a good chunk of the year but finally put in a performance of old in Week 14, holding the Texans to just seven points and 4.1 yards per play.
The Bears have won four of the last five meetings and are riding a little higher after last week’s win that kept their slim playoff chances alive.
PREDICTION: Chicago +3 (+100)
Over/Under Pick
Kirk Cousins and the Minny offense will be happy to be heading home this week, as they are scoring nearly eight more points per game than on the road this year. This success at home has put the Vikings at a league-best 6-1 O/U at home this year.
Cousins will have his full array of weaponry on Sunday as the Bears are giving up 25.7 points per game on the road. Minnesota has the benefit of running or passing the ball as Dalvin Cook and Adam Thielen/Justin Jefferson may be the most talented RB1/WR-A/WR-B in the league.
Trubisky has thrown for seven TDs in his three starts since taking over the quarterback job again, while RB David Montgomery has been reborn.
Monty has been running well since Mitch has stepped under center, as the RB is averaging a healthy 7.38 yards per carry and has four TDs over that time.
One good offense, one hot offense and two soft defenses have us loving the Over. Minnesota hasn’t seen a total this low at home since Week 1.
PREDICTION: Over 46 (-110)
Highest Scoring Half Prop Pick
With all the love for the Over, it’s strange to see both teams rank so low in first-half scoring. On the year, both offenses are averaging Under 12 points in the game’s first 30. It’s the second half where these two clubs find their rhythm.
At home, the Vikings score more second-half points than any other team in the league — 18.7. Making things even better for us, their defense is giving up the most second-half points overall.
Things tend to turn loose in Minnesota after halftime and there are markets that we can exploit with this information.
PREDICTION: Highest scoring half — Second half (-110)
Bears vs Vikings Betting Card
- Chicago +3 (-110)
- Over 53 (-110)
- Highest scoring half — Second half (-110)
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