NFL Betting – NFC North Battle – Vikings vs. Bears in Week 10

The Minnesota Viking have let the NFL Betting world down so far this season but a come from behind win last week against the Cardinals may have been the start of something positive. The Chicago Bears beat the Buffalo Bills last week and may have been lucky to do so. Both teams have gone 2-3 in their last five games and need a win to keep any hope of staying with the Green Bay Packers in the NFC North.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (3-5) vs. CHICAGO BEARS (5-3)
Sunday, November 14, 1:00 PM ET
Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
Broadcast: FOX

NFL Betting Lines:

Minnesota: -1 ½ (-110)
Chicago: +1 ½ (-110)

Moneyline: OFF

Total: 40 ½ points

Minnesota’s win last week may be a sign of things to come for the club or it may simply have delayed the NFL Betting inevitable. The Vikings clearly are not the same team that came within a Brett Favre blunder from representing the NFL at the Super Bowl. Things are never dull when it comes to the Vikings – there’s Brett Favre, Randy Moss and the ever-present threat of a Percy Harvin migraine to keep fans and the press on their toes.

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The Vikings have been dysfunctional since training camp – hell since the end of last season! But hopes among the NFL Betting enthusiast, were that all would be forgotten once Brett Favre reported to camp. WRONG! The Vikings, under offensive guru Brad Childress and Brett Favre have the 16th ranked passing game and the ninth ranked running game in the NFL. They are 22nd when it comes to scoring – just 19.5 points per game. Favre has thrown nine touchdowns and 13 interceptions this season.

The Minnesota defense has been another area of concern. A unit that has dominated for the past five years has been good, but far from the elite group we have come to expect. They rank 10th against the pass and 7th against the run.

The Chicago Bears are another team that came into the season with hopes of righting their sinking NFL Betting ship. Mike Martz was brought in to cure Jay Cutler and take Matt Forte to the next level. Instead, the Bears have the 21st ranked passing game (198.88 yards per game) and the 27th ranked running game (90.63 yards per game). Jay Cutler has just 9 touchdowns versus 7 interceptions this season and has been sacked an astonishing 28 times!

The Bears defense has been suspect versus the pass this season but have made up for it with their third ranked run defense. They are giving up the fourth lowest points per game (16.63 per game).

NFL Betting Outlook:

The Minnesota Vikings are 3-6 SU in their last nine games and 1-4 ATS in their last five. On the road, the Vikings are 0-5 SU in their last five and 2-6 ATS in six. Minnesota is 1-8 SU in their last nine games in Chicago and 1-5-1 ATS in their last seven trips to Soldier Field.

The Chicago Bears are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games but are 1-3-1 ATS in their last five. They are 13-6 SU at home but are 2-7 ATS in their last nine at Soldier Field.

Minnesota may have gained a little swagger last week and with Chicago on the slate, their luck could continue. There has been a lot of talk about the ineffectiveness of Jared Allen lately and the Bears may just the cure for his personal woes. I think that the Vikings defense will rise to the occasion on Sunday and that Jay Cutler will literally turn over the game in a way that only he knows how. Minnesota despite their locker room dysfunction will keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

NFL Betting Pick: Minnesota -1 ½