Chicago Bears vs Minnesota Vikings NFL Week 15 MNF Betting Odds, Picks, and Preview

Chicago Bears vs Minnesota Vikings NFL Week 15 MNF Betting Odds, Picks, and Preview

The regularly scheduled Monday Night Football game for Week 15 features an NFC North Division rivalry between the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears. Despite only being separated by two games in the standings, the market perceptions of these two teams differ tremendously. One need not look further than the wide disparity in ticket counts and the massive line move for proof. The visitors are now laying nearly a full touchdown ahead of this Vikings vs Bears MNF showdown.

Vikings vs. Bears Week 15 MNF NFL Betting Odds, Picks, and Preview

Minnesota Vikings (6-7 SU, 7-6 ATS) vs. Chicago Bears (4-9 SU, 4-9 ATS)

• Date: Monday, December 20, 2021
• Start Time: 8:15 PM EST
• Location: Soldier Field — Chicago, IL
• TV Coverage: ESPN

Click Here for Vikings vs Bears Odds

Minnesota Vikings Preview

As a result of playing on Thursday night in Week 14, the Vikings have actually had a full 11 days off in between games. After letting a massive lead slip away only to hold on late against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota is now a popular NFL betting pick to get back to .500 tonight. This MNF matchup could almost be considered a must-win for the Vikings with respect to the NFC Wild Card picture. Can Kirk Cousins overcome the primetime narrative against him two weeks in a row? The availability of wideout Adam Thielen could prove vital to his chances. Thielen officially carries a questionable designation after not practicing all week. 

Of course, with Justin Jefferson healthy and ready to roll, Cousins will have one of the top receivers in the NFL at his disposal regardless of Thielen’s status. K.J. Osborn stepped up in his absence last week and would be expected to again. While lead RB Dalvin Cook is good to go, the Vikings are shorthanded behind him with Alexander Mattison in virus protocols. Defensively, the Vikings have gotten healthier in recent weeks. That being said, the unit still struggled down the stretch in the win over Pittsburgh. They will not be forced to fill the void vacated by corner Bashaud Breeland, who was released for off-the-field reasons this past week.

Chicago Bears Preview

The Bears could not have played much better than they did in the first half last week against the Green Bay Packers. Unfortunately, the few mistakes they did make led to Chicago losing by double-digits in a matchup where they had zero room for error. Even so, there were some notable positives to take away from that primetime game. Despite throwing two interceptions, rookie quarterback Justin Fields continues to show signs of progress as a passer. He also led the Bears in rushing with 74 yards on nine attempts. There certainly figures to be an opportunity for him and David Montgomery to rip off solid gains against a Vikings defense that ranks just 26th in adjusted efficiency against the run.

The Bears will be forced to overcome a long list of injured players as well as several positive virus cases in this MNF NFL betting matchup. While wideout Allen Robinson is the most notable offensive player currently in virus protocol, Chicago’s defense has been decimated. The secondary in particular could face an uphill battle with safeties Tashaun Gipson and Eddie Jackson both expected to miss Monday’s game. The Bears are notorious for having a strong defense, but this year is an exception. They have surrendered 29+ points in five of the last seven games.

Vikings vs. Bears NFL Betting Odds and Line Movement

The following list contains the best Vikings vs Bears NFL betting odds and lines available in the market.

Both the point spread and total for this MNF matchup have experienced significant adjustments throughout the week. 72% of spread bets are on the Vikings as road favorites. Considering that the line has moved from -4 to -6.5, it seems that the pros and Joes are in agreement on Minnesota as the side. The numerous virus positives for the Bears might be playing a part in that move. Meanwhile, the total has climbed up two full points to 45.5 after opening at 43.5. 

Vikings vs. Bears Betting Picks and Prediction

The Vikings may be the better team this year, the Bears have largely dominated this NFC North rivalry in recent years. While Monday’s matchup marks the first head-to-head meeting between the teams this season, Chicago has won five of six games outright dating back to 2018. Three of those wins came in games where the Bears went in as NFL betting underdogs. Overall, Chicago is 4-2 ATS against the Vikings over the last three seasons. 

Despite winning in a low-scoring affair last year, Soldier Field has always been a tough place for the Vikings to play. While Monday night’s game looms large for Minnesota’s playoff hopes this season, the line move has simply gotten out of control. Trusting Kirk Cousins to win back-to-back primetime games is not an easy thing to do. On top of that, 12 of the Vikings’ 13 games to date have been decided by one score. With this being a divisional game, the Bears should be able to hang around.

While the point spread move allows for a buy-back opportunity on the home underdog, the total shift to the over is one for bettors to follow. Neither team has a good defense based on adjusted metrics. Despite Mike Zimmer’s reputation for being a strong defensive coach, Minnesota’s inability to stop the run plays right into the Bears’ hands tonight. With both teams’ secondaries also proving to be vulnerable, this MNF showdown has some sneaky shootout potential.

Vikings vs Bears NFL Betting Picks: Bears +6.5 (-105) and Over 45.5 (-110)