[8:30 PM] Vikings @ Bears

Who will WIN this matchup?

Minnesota Vikings (5-1)

@ Chicago Bears (1-6)

 

Current odds:

Minnesota Vikings: (-210)

Chicago Bears: (+180)

 

• ESPN simulations have Minnesota as XX% favorites to win the game.

• XX% of sports bets are currently on Minnesota to win as (TBD) underdogs.

• The line for this game is Vikings by 5 points.

• Their perfect record now a thing of the past, the Minnesota Vikings look to get back on track when they visit the Chicago Bears on Monday night in a matchup of NFC North rivals. The Vikings opened the season with five consecutive wins prior to their bye week but absorbed their first loss in a 21-10 defeat at Philadelphia last week.

• Backup quarterback Brian Hoyer suffered a broken arm and third-stringer Matt Barkley appeared totally overmatched in last week’s 26-10 loss at Green Bay. The most pressing issue facing Fox and Cutler is how to jump-start an offense that is averaging a league-low 15.9 points per game and ranks 25th in the NFL in rush with an average of 87.9 yards. Chicago’s defense sits 20th in the league, permitting an average of 24.1 points per game.

• Injuries to top running back Adrian Peterson and along the offensive line are stagnating Minnesota, which ranks 31st in total offense (299.2 yards) and 30th in rushing (74.3). Quarterback Sam Bradford had six touchdowns and zero interceptions in his first four starts but was picked off once and lost a pair of fumbles last week against his former team. One of his new favorite targets, wideout Cordarrelle Patterson, has 16 receptions and two touchdowns over the last three games but missed practice Thursday with a concussion. Still, the Vikings rely on a defense that is limiting foes to an NFL-low 14.0 points.

• Minnesota swept the season series in 2015-16 and has won the last three meetings.

• Chicago WR Alshon Jeffery has five TD receptions and is averaging 108.8 receiving yards in his last five games versus Minnesota.

• Vikings WR Stefon Diggs hauled in two scoring passes in the last meeting versus Chicago.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Minnesota Vikings

Confidence: 5/10

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