Chicago Bears
vs.
Minnesota Vikings
NFL Pick
ATS Picks
12/30/2018
By: Jason Green
Chicago Bears (11-4 SU 11-4 ATS) vs. Minnesota Vikings (8-6-1 SU 8-6-1 ATS)
The Bears have won the NFC and if they win this finale and the L.A. Rams lose Chicago will be the #2 seed in the NFC and get a first round bye. They have won three in a row and while their offense has not lit up in the win streak their defense has only given up a total of 30 points in their last three Games. Chicago is led by their defense, which ranks 4th, overall, in the league.
The Vikings hold the 6th and last playoff spot in the NFC and they need to win this Game or have the Philadelphia Eagles lose to the Washington Redskins to make the post-season. After losing two in a row Minnesota has won their last two Games where they held their opponents to only 26 points. The Vikings rank 3rd in the league in defense and they have to stop the run, which they could not do in their loss to the Bears earlier this season.
At 5Dimes sportsbook the Vikings are a 6-point home favorite with a total of 41.
This season the Bears are 11-4 ATS with an O/U record of 8-7 and the Vikings are 8-6-1 ATS with an O/U record of 6-9.
Earlier this season in Chicago the Bears beat the Vikings 25-20.
The Bears are 4-1 ATS in their last five Games facing the Vikings.
In their last Game, the Bears were on the road and they beat the San Francisco 49ers 14-9 in a solid defensive performance. They shut out the 49ers in the 2nd half and for the Game outGAined them 325 yards to 279 yards and they only GAve up 47 rushing yards.
Mitchell Trubisky passed for 246 yards with a TD and no INT and Allen Robinson was his main target with 85 receiving yards. Jordan Howard led the team with 53 rushing yards and a TD and he rushed for 63 yards in the win over Minnesota earlier this season in the Windy City.
The Vikings only GAve up nine points in their last Game and on the season, they rank 3rd in the league defending the run and 11th defending the pass.
The Vikings were on the road in their last Game and they beat the Detroit Lions 27-9. They outGAined the Lions 340 yards to 223 yards only GAve up 86 rushing yards and held them to 4/16 on 3rd down.
Kirk Cousins passed for 253 yards with three TD and no INT and TE Kyle Rudolph and WR Adam Thielen combined for 202 receiving yards. Dalvin Cook led the Vikings with 73 yards averaging a legit 4.6 yards per carry. Cousins has six TD and only one pick in his last three Games and Cook has rushed for at least 73 yards in three of his last Four Games iNCluding his last two.
The Bears’ defense ranks 8th in the league against the pass and 2n against the run, so Cook and company have a tall task trying to move the chains on the ground.
Bears ATS Trends
8-1 ATS in their last 9 Games
6-0 ATS in their last 6 Games facing teams from the NFC North
Under record of 4-1 in their last 5 Games
Vikings ATS Trends
36-15-1 ATS in their last 52 home Games
2-8 ATS in their last 10 Games facing a team with a winning record
Under record of 4-1 in their last 5 Games
Jason’s Pick: The Bears are the hotter team and they beat the Vikings already this season, but in the LAnd of 10,000 LAkes the home team is the pick in this finale. It will be a low scoring defensive battle, but the Vikings will win and cover and make the playoffs in the process.