Chicago Bears vs Minnesota Vikings Betting Pick & Prediction 12/16/24
ABC will broadcast the week 15 NFC North matchup between the Vikings and Bears at 8:00 ET. The Vikings are the heavy favorite with a money line of -323, and the Bears are at +256. The Bears are 7-point underdogs on the road at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The over/under line is set at 44 points.
CHICAGO BEARS VS MINNESOTA VIKINGS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Chicago Bears +7
This game will be played at U.S. Bank Stadium at 8:00 ET on Monday, December 16th.
WHY BET THE CHICAGO BEARS:
- We have the Bears winning this one by a score of 24 to 18
- Not only do we have the Bears winning straight-up, we have them covering the spread at +7
- We see this game finishing below the line of 44 points
Will The Bears Pull Off An Upset As Road Underdogs
Chicago’s losing streak now stands at seven games after their 38-13 loss to the 49ers in week 14, dropping their record to 4-9. The Bears are 0-6 on the road this season, but they have a 4-3 record at home. They rank 23rd in our NFL power rankings and have a -1.8 scoring margin. Despite their losing record, they are 7-5-1 against the spread, including a 3-1 mark as the favorite.
Chicago has been eliminated from playoff contention, and their division record is 0-3. In week 13, they narrowly lost to the Lions, 23-20, but managed to cover the 9.5-point spread. In week 12, they lost 30-27 to the Vikings, and in week 11, they fell 20-19 to the Packers.
Heading into week 15, the Bears’ offense ranks 23rd in our power rankings, averaging 19.5 points per game, which is 22nd in the NFL. They have struggled to move the ball, sitting last in the league with 288.5 yards per game, and are 29th in passing yards with 182.7 per game. Chicago ranks 27th in 3rd-down conversions, converting 33.9% of their attempts, but they’ve been efficient in the red zone, ranking 6th with a 51.7% conversion rate.
Caleb Williams posted a passer rating of 116 in week 14, throwing for 134 yards and 2 touchdowns on 17/23 passing. However, he was sacked 7 times. DJ Moore led the team with 6 catches for 49 yards, and D’Andre Swift had 38 rushing yards on 14 carries. The Bears scored 13 points in week 14, all coming in the second half.
In their 38-13 loss to the 49ers, the Bears’ defense struggled to get off the field, allowing San Francisco to convert on 50% of their third down attempts. Chicago gave up 321 passing yards on just 20 completions, with the 49ers averaging 12.3 yards per attempt through the air. The Bears’ only interception came from their secondary, and they managed just one sack while allowing the 49ers to gain 452 total yards.
Chicago’s run defense held up better, allowing 131 yards on 34 attempts (3.9 yards per attempt). The Bears also lost the TFL battle, finishing with three fewer tackles for loss than the 49ers.
Are The Vikings Going To Defend Home Field Advantage?
With a 42-21 win over the Falcons in week 14, the Vikings extended their winning streak to six games and improved to 11-2. Minnesota is now 6-1 at home and 5-1 on the road, and they have a +7.6 scoring margin this season. Against the spread, the Vikings are 8-4-1, including a 3-0 record as underdogs.
Heading into week 15, Minnesota ranks 7th in our NFL power rankings and has a 100% chance of making the playoffs. However, they have just a 10.6% chance of winning the NFC North, as they currently sit 2nd in the division with a 2-1 record. In conference play, the Vikings are 6-2.
Heading into week 15, the Vikings rank 10th in our offensive power rankings. They are 9th in the NFL in points per game, averaging 26.1, and 11th in yards per game with 351.4. Minnesota is 23rd in passing attempts per game but ranks 8th in passing yards, averaging 238.2. On the ground, they are 17th in rushing yards per game, with 113.2, on 27.6 attempts per game. The Vikings have been strong in the 1st quarter, ranking 2nd in the league in scoring, but they are 21st in red zone conversion percentage, despite being 6th in red zone attempts.
Sam Darnold has been on fire, posting a passer rating of 157 in week 14, with 347 yards and 5 touchdowns on 22/28 passing. He has gone three straight games without an interception. In week 14, the Vikings scored 21 points in the 4th quarter, converting 8 of 12 3rd downs and going 4/4 in the red zone. Jordan Addison had 8 catches for 133 yards and 3 touchdowns, while Aaron Jones rushed for 73 yards on 13 carries.
Despite giving up 338 passing yards to the Falcons, the Vikings’ defense came away with two interceptions and held Atlanta to 21 points in their 42-21 victory. The Falcons had a good amount of success running the ball, gaining 158 yards on 32 attempts, including a 4.9-yard average per attempt. Minnesota’s defense also allowed Atlanta to convert on 53.8% of their third down attempts.
Minnesota’s defense did not allow any passing touchdowns in the game, but the Falcons did have a few big plays, averaging 9.1 yards per passing attempt. The Vikings’ defense managed just one sack and had a tough time in the run game, giving up 496 total yards.