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Edgar Chaput
Vikings vs. Bears Point Spread: NFL Week 18 Odds, Prediction
Kevin O’Connell’s Vikings looked like a very sleepy squad on New Year’s Day, falling to the rival Packers 41-17. Chicago is grasping for any positives as a laborious campaign draws to a close.
Minnesota is viewed as -6 favourites on the NFL odds, whereas the over-under is calculated at 45.5.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Chicago’s moribund history over the past few seasons hasn’t done them many favours when tussling with the Vikings. The latter holds a 4-1 edge over the past five meetings. That said, the tilt in October showed that Chicago can hang with Minnesota, at least for a while.
As happened so often this season, the Vikings operated in spurts that day. It was the Bears who clawed their way back from a 21-3 first-half deficit to lead 22-21 early in the fourth stanza. True to form, Kirk Cousins and company found their mojo when the going got tough, with the QB scoring a 1-yard rushing TD late and tacking on a two-point conversion for a 29-22 win.
The story of the 2022 Vikings is well known. They are an incredible 11-0 in one-score games. Credit to them, given it isn’t a statistic that pundits would normally associate with Minnesota. The flip side of that reality is a poor showing ATS: 6-9-1. By Week 18, lessons have been learned by betters, so proceed with caution.
Matt Eberflus’ ensemble is no better ATS. In fact, they’re a bit worse, sitting at 5-10-1. Positives have been hard to come by this season. It even feels as though the exciting vibes emanating from QB Justin Fields have faded in recent weeks. More caution for betters: Chicago has failed to cover in six of their last seven tries.
Minnesota Vikings
One supposes that winning a division crown with a few games to go in a campaign will inevitably result in a letdown at some point. Nevertheless, it was disappointing that said letdown happened against the Green Bay Packers.
The Minneapolis club cannot finish 1st in the NFC but they’ve avoided finishing as low as 4th. With either 2nd or 3rd locked, its forgivable that they’d let a road game slip, especially against a side that’s making a playoff push and finding its groove at the right moment. All the same, it was a disastrous performance. Believe it or not but the 41-17 final flattered them: they trailed 41-3 in the fourth quarter.
One thing is for sure. Despite an enviable 12-4 record, the defence is a liability. They rank second-last in total yards allowed per game and passing yards allowed per game.
Chicago Bears
A rough season didn’t experience any brightness on New Year’s Day in Detroit. A nice drive early in the game saw Justin Fields connect with tight end Cole Kmet for a 7-0 lead. Given Detroit’s many problems the previous week in Carolina, things were looking good. About three hours later the Bears were staring at a 41-10 scoreline that favoured the hosts.
How many times this year had Bears fans enjoyed Fields tearing up the gridiron with his legs (132 yards rushing) but showing relative ineptitude doing what any decent QB should (7/21 for 75 yards through the air)? Yes, it’s thrilling when he runs. He’s sixth in the entire NFL in rushing yards and he’s not even a running back! It doesn’t change the fact that the team is 3-13 and has looked awful at times.
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