Bears
vs.
Vikings
Week 17
NFL Pick
12/31/17
By: Jason Green
Chicago Bears (5-10 SU 7-7-1 ATS) vs. Minnesota Vikings (12-3 SU 11-4 ATS)
Bears’ fans have not had a lot to cheer about this season, but they have some hope for the future in a new QB that has not been bad this season in Mitchell Trubisky, a legit RB in Jordan Howard, and a defense that has not been that bad. Chicago has won two of their last three Games and they can end the season on a high note in the land of 10,000 LAkes beating the rival Vikings. However, in the Windy City earlier this season the Vikings beat the Bears 20-17.
At 5 dimes sportsbook the Vikings are the 13.5-point favorite with a total of 39.5.
The Vikings cannot get the #1 seed in the playoffs in the NFC, but they can get a first round bye by beating the Bears or a few other scenarios. Basically, Minnesota should get a first round bye, but Chicago can really make it hard if they get this road win. Minnesota has won two in a row and they have only given up seven points in their last two Games with their last one a shutout win.
The Vikings have covered the spread in Four of their last five home Games facing the Bears.
Hey, big shock the Bears beat the winless Cleveland Browns 20-3 in their last Game. While Chicago only had Four more overall yards in the Game (258-254) they forced three turnovers and did not commit any and they held Cleveland to 4/13 on 3rd down conversions. Trubisky passed for 193 yards with no TD and no INT and the duo of Benny Cunningham and Joshua Bellamy combined for 111 receiving yards. Howard only rushed for 44 yards averaging a paltry two yards per carry, but he did have two TD. Howard has over 1,100 rushing yards on the season, but in his last two Games he has only combined for 81 yards on the ground on 32 carries and I won’t even do the match, as that is a bad per-carry average. He has his work cut out for him in this Game facing Minnesota and their top-ranked run D, but he did rush for 76 yards in the earlier loss to the Vikings this season.
The Vikings were on the road in their last Game and they got a sweet 16-0 shutout win over the Green Bay Packers. They forced two turnovers in the Game, not committing any and those were key since they only had three fewer overall yards (236-239). Case Keenum did not light it up, but also did not make mistakes passing for 139 yards with a TD and no picks with Stefon Diggs leading the way with 60 receiving yards and he hauled in the TD pass. LAtavius Murray rushed for 69 of Minnesota’s 112 rushing yards, but only averaged 3.3 yards per carry. Chicago has been solid against the run on the season, but not so much defending the pass ranking 30th in the league.
The Bears are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 Games, 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 Games facing a team with a winning record, and in their last 5 Games they have an Under record of 5-0.
The Vikings are 11-3 ATS in their last 14 Games facing a team with a losing record, 34-16-1 ATS in their last 51 home Games, and in their last 5 home Games they have an Under record of 4-1.
Jason’s Pick: The Vikings still have something to play for and while they will get the win they will not cover the spread. Chicago will be fired up playing their division rival and they will play solid D in the Game and Howard will run the ball well. It still may not be that close, but the Bears will cover the spread getting so many points.