Minnesota Vikings (2-1 SU, 2-1 ATS) vs. Chicago Bears (2-1, 1-2)
The Vikings fashioned a 6-1 run against the rival Bears from 2014-17, but Chicago swept the season series from Minnesota last year, on its way toward the NFC North title. How are we playing Sunday’s Black and Blue match-up with our free NFL pick?
NFL Betting Odds
Week 4’s 4’s NFL betting odds opened Chicago at -3 over Minnesota, with an over/under of right around 39. Early betting action then dipped the Bears to -2 and the total to 38.
Vikings vs. Bears Set-Up
Minnesota is off to a 2-1 start to this season, after beating Oakland in Minneapolis last week 34-14. The Vikings drove their opening possession of the game 76 yards to a touchdown, led 21-0 early in the second quarter and rolled on from there for the victory and the cover as nine-point favorites.
On the day Minnesota out-gained the Raiders 385-302 and out-rushed Oakland 211-88, as running back Dalvin Cook hit the 100-yard mark for the third straight game.
The Vikings opened this season with a 28-12 win over Atlanta, easily covering at -3.5, then lost at Green Bay 21-16. Minnesota out-gained the Packers that day 421-335 but got robbed on an offensive pass interference penalty that basically cost them four points and threw a bad interception on a 1st-and-goal in the Green Bay end zone while trying to take the lead in the fourth quarter.
A play here or there and the Vikings might be undefeated.
Chicago, meanwhile, is also 2-1, after beating the Redskins in DC Monday night 31-15. The Bears took an early 7-0 lead on a pick-six. Pushed that to 28-0 in the second quarter and cruise-controlled from there for the W and the cash as five-point favorites.
On the night Chicago got out-gained by Washington 356-298 but that stat, in this case, was a bit situational. The Bears defense came up with five takeaways, scoring once and setting the offense up with a couple of short fields, helping to create that big early lead.
Chicago opened this season with a lackluster 10-3 loss at home to the Packers, then won at Denver 16-14 on a long field goal at the buzzer. But the Bears got out-gained by the Broncos that day by almost 100 yards and probably should have lost.
Vikings-Bears Recent History
As mentioned above, Minnesota was on a roll in this rivalry, winning six of seven meetings, but Chicago swept two games from the Vikes last year by scores of 25-20 and 24-10. The Bears out-gained Minnesota both those games by an average margin of 320-216.
NFL Betting Trends
- Minnesota is 10-8-1 both SU and ATS with Kirk Cousins starting at quarterback.
- Minnesota is only 3-5-1 both SU and ATS over its last nine road games.
- Chicago is 17-12 SU, 17-10-2 ATS with Mitch Trubisky starting at QB.
- Chicago is 8-2 both SU and ATS over its last ten home games.
- Home teams are only 24-23 SU, 15-31 ATS so far this NFL season.
Totals Report
- Unders are 2-1 in Vikings games this season, which are averaging 42 total points.
- Unders are also 2-1 in Bears games this season, which are averaging just 30 points.
- Unders are 7-3 over the last ten games in this rivalry, as these teams have played some low-scoring games even against relatively low totals.
- Unders are 26-22 so far this NFL season.
- Get more details: Vikings at Bears NFL Match-up Stats
