Vikings at Bears Point Spread: NFL Week 5 Odds, Prediction

Quarterback questions abound for both the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears as the NFC North rivals close out the Week 5 schedule in the Monday night matchup. The Vikings are opening 3.5-point favourites at Sports Interaction but that number could move.

Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears

When: Monday, 8:30 PM ET
Where: Soldier Field, Chicago
Point Spread: Vikings -3

Point Spread and Betting Analysis

The Vikings have alternated wins and covers thus far, while Chicago is in the division basement at 1-3 SU but also is 2-2 ATS. The Bears are the only team below .500 in the North and the lone one with a negative point differential (minus-43, worst in the NFC). The Vikings have covered just three of their past 14 trips to Chicago. Last year, they also played there on a Monday night, in Week 8, and lost 20-10. Jordan Howard rushed for 153 yards and a touchdown. Jay Cutler, now with the Dolphins, threw for 252 yards and a TD with no turnovers. It was arguably the Bears’ best defensive effort of the season as they held Minnesota to 258 yards and sacked Sam Bradford (more on him below) five times. 

Minnesota is 2-8 ATS in its past 10 Monday night games, while the Bears are 5-2 ATS in their past seven MNF games and have covered six of their previous seven at home overall.

Minnesota Vikings

Will Bradford play? He hasn’t due to a knee injury since a spectacular Week 1 game in a win over New Orleans in which Bradford completed 27 of 32 passes for 346 yards and three touchdowns. The Vikings are being vague about what exactly the injury is and simply have been calling Bradford day-to-day and that he doesn’t need surgery. Journeyman Case Keenum has been starting in his place. He has had one great game and two poor ones; it was the latter in Week 4, a 14-7 home loss to Detroit.

The Vikings got terrible news from that defeat as good-looking rookie running back Dalvin Cook, one of the preseason favourites for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, reportedly tore his ACL – if so, his season is over. Cook has rushed for 288 yards and a TD on 61 carries and caught 10 passes for 82 yards. Latavius Murray, signed in free agency from Oakland, should take over as the featured back with Jerick McKinnon also seeing some carries.

Chicago Bears

As of this writing, the Bears haven’t announced who their starting QB will be. Most expect it to be rookie No. 2 overall pick Mitchell Trubisky making his first career start. Mike Glennon is one of the lowest-rated quarterbacks in the NFL and turned it over four times in last Thursday’s 35-14 loss to Green Bay. Trubisky looked very good this preseason.

Chicago will be without starting linebacker Danny Trevathan. He was suspended two games for a vicious hit to the head on Green Bay receiver Davante Adams. Trevathan is appealing and a decision will come down this week, but there’s no chance the suspension is wiped out entirely. Perhaps it’s lowered to one game.

Vikings at Bears Prediction

If Bradford is out, take Chicago and the points. They win 20-17. If Bradford plays, buy it down to 2.5 points and take Minnesota as then it wins by a field goal.