Minnesota Vikings (3-5 5-3 ATS) at Chicago Bears (5-4 5-4 ATS)
The Bears are reeling losing three in a row and they host a Vikings team that has won two in a row on Monday night in an NFC North matchup. The Vikings are a 2.5-point road favorite with the total sitting at 44.
To say the public has backed the Vikes in this game would be an understatement, as they opened as a 2-point dog and as of Thursday are a 2.5-point favorite.
This is the first game between these division rivals this season and last season the Bears won both games.
RB Dalvin Cook and the Vikings’ defense is why the team has won two in a row. Cook has killed it on the ground in the last two games and leads the NFL in rushing yards. After giving up 67 points in two losses Minnesota has given up 42 points in winning their last two games.
The Bears are reeling losers of three in a row where their offense has been bad. That has been the case the whole season, as while the scoring defense ranks 6th in the league Chicago ranks dead last in rushing yards per game and third to last in ppg.
Not only have the Bears covered against the Vikings in five of their last six games facing them but in 14 of their last 17 games facing them at home.
Cook Has Been a Beast
After rushing for 163 yards in a win over the Green Bay Packers he topped that in the last game rushing for 208 yards with two TD in a 34-20 win over the Detroit Lions. Not only does he lead the league in rushing yards but also in rushing TD (12) and he is averaging six yards per carry.
Kirk Cousins has bounced back in the last couple of games and while he has been plagued by INT on the season he has not been picked off in the last two games. It has helped that his line has protected him, as he has been sacked only once in each of the last three games.
Rookie Justin Jefferson leads Minnesota with 627 receiving yards and Adam Thielen has 480 receiving yards. They have not put up big numbers as of late and have not had to with Cook carrying the offense.
Despite losing their last game the Bears played well against the run and need to do that to win this game.
Maybe the Rest Did Some Good
The Bears are coming off a bye week so they will be rested for this big Monday night game. In their last game, they lost to the Tennessee Titans 24-17 even though they outgained them 375 yards to 228 yards. In the loss, Chicago only rushed for 56 yards. Lost two fumbles, and were only 2/15 on third down.
Nick Foles only ranks 28th in the league in QBR but has four TD and only one pick in his last two games. In the loss to Tennessee, he passed for 335 yards with two TD and no INT.
David Montgomery left the last game with a concussion but should go in this game. He has struggled this season and while he has 472 rushing yards, which is 13th in the league, he is only averaging 3.6 yards per carry.
Allen Robinson II is the leading receiver for the Bears with 712 yards while the next leading WR is Darnell Mooney with 348 yards.
Minnesota’s defense struggled in the first few games but has played much better in the last two games.
Prediction
The Vikings are 5-1 ATS in their last six games while the Bears are only 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games following a loss.
The Vikings are hot, and the Bears are not and that will continue this Monday night in the Windy City. Cook will have a solid game as will the Minnesota defense and while they will not blow out the Bears they will win and cover for their third straight W.
PICK: Vikings -2.5