Win or lose in Week 17, the Chicago Bears are going to the playoffs. That’s not the case for the Minnesota Vikings, though, who will need to beat the champions of the NFC North division in order to sneak into the postseason. The Bears are +1,200 to win Super Bowl 53, while the Vikings are priced +3,500 to do just that. Going into the final weekend of the regular season, the sportsbook favors the home team by 5-points.
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Betting Preview for the Chicago Bears vs Minnesota Vikings NFL Week 17 Game on December 30, 2018
Where: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
When: Sunday, December 30, 2018, 4:25 PM ET
Line: Chicago Bears (+5) vs Minnesota Vikings (-5) – view all 2018 NFL lines
TV Broadcast: FOX
Betting on the Chicago Bears (11-4)
The Bears are coming off a too-close-for-comfort 14-9 win over the San Francisco 49ers on the road in Week 16. In that game, quarterback Mitchell Trubisky had 246 passing yards and a touchdown on 25-of-29 completions. He was also sacked three times for a loss of 11 yards. It was still a better performance from the one he had in Week 11’s 25-20 win over Minnesota in which he had 165 passing yards and a touchdown with two interceptions. The Vikings are ninth in the NFL with 26.5 points per game and 21st with 344.7 total yards per contest. On defense, the Bears will be relying on their stop unit that is only allowing 18.2 points and 308.7 total yards per game, third and fourth in the NFL, respectively.
The Bears are 3-1 against the spread (ATS) in their last four road games.
Injury Reports and Impact on Game
Injuries could play a significant role in this matchup. The Bears may miss right guard Kyle Long, who has been on injured reserve with a foot injury. His absence will test the Bears' offensive line depth.
The Vikings face concern over Eric Kendricks, who sustained a hamstring injury. Losing a playmaker like Kendricks could weaken their defense, making it easier for Chicago's offense to find opportunities.
Betting on the Minnesota Vikings (8-6-1)
Minnesota won its second win a row last weekend, as the Vikings took down the Detroit Lions at Ford Field, 27-9. Kirk Cousins had a fantastic performance in that game, passing for 253 yards and three touchdowns with zero interceptions on 21-of-28 completions. He also got ample help from the backfield with Dalvin Cook and company racking up 100 rushing yards. In the first meeting with the Bears, quarterback Kirk Cousins had 262 passing yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions, while Cook only had 12 rushing yards. It’s important for the Vikings to get their passing attack early and put pressure on Trubisky to keep in step with the Bears. Stefon Diggs, who had 126 receiving yards and a touchdown in the previous meeting with Chicago. He only had 10 receiving yards on two receptions in the Lions game.
On the season so far Minnesota is both 3-4-1 straight up (SU) and against the spread (ATS) while the Vikings are 3-0 ATS in their last three home games, a trend bettors will want to take note of.
Historical Head-to-Head Performance
The Bears and Vikings have a storied rivalry. In their last five matchups before this season, the Bears took three wins, while the Vikings claimed two. The games are often close, with defense being a major factor.
Historically, games at U.S. Bank Stadium have been particularly challenging for Chicago, giving the Vikings a slight edge at home.
Key Players to Watch
Watch for Khalil Mack on the Bears' side; he's a game-changer on defense. His ability to pressure Cousins will be key.
For the Vikings, Dalvin Cook is essential in their ground game. If Cook can establish the run, it will open up passing lanes for Cousins and put pressure on the Bears' defense.
Writer’s Prediction
Minnesota wins, 24-21.
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