Minnesota (5-3-1) at Chicago (6-3)
When: Sunday, November 18th 2018
Where: Soldier Field,
Chicago, Illinois
Time: 8:20 ET | TV: NBC
Opening Odds: Chicago -3/45.5
Its been a few years since Solider Field has hosted an important game involving their beloved Chicago Bears, but this Sunday night should be considered one. The first-place Bears try and hold onto that position in the NFC North when they host the surging Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings have won four of their last five games overall and are coming off a bye after defeating the last-place Detroit Lions 24-9, while Chicago fought off the same team last weekend 34-22. Chicago has enjoyed a resurgence offensively, averaging 33 points during its three-game winning streak and 34.3 over a six-game span behind quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who threw for over 300 yards four times in those six games, including 355 against Detroit. Trubisky is 10th in the NFL in passer rating (101.6), one spot behind tonight’s opposing quarterback, Kirk Cousins, who will face a Chicago defense that ranks tops in the NFC in yards allowed per game (319.6). Minnesota has won three straight and eight of the past 11 in this series including a 20-17 win on a Monday in Chicago in Week 5 last year. That game featured the debut of Trubisky for the Bears, who struggled. Trubisky wasn’t much better in the 2017 season finale at Minnesota, a 23-10 Bears loss. Chicago’s last three wins in the series have been at Soldier Field, where they are 12-3 ATS against them in the last 15.
Minnesota would love to establish some sort of running game, but have had trouble all season doing so. The return to form of running back Dalvin Cook (89 yards on 10 carries against the Lions) would really help, and the team expects second-leading receiver Stefon Diggs to come back from a rib injury that kept him out of the last game. Diggs, along with fellow wideout Adam Thielen, form one of the best receiver combinations in the league. Thielen, who was held under 100 yards for the first time this year against Detroit, is questionable due to back and calf issues. Defensive end Danielle Hunter had 3.5 sacks against the Lions for a defense that has been getting stronger and stronger each week.
Trubisky has been getting help from his running game, but its produced just 118 total yards over the last two games, and the team is hoping that kicker Cody Parkey can bounce back after missing two field goals and two extra points last week, which could come into play in a close game. Wide receiver Allen Robinson and pass-rushing star Khalil Mack both returned last week after missing two games. Robinson caught six passes for 133 yards and two scores, while Mack had two sacks for a Chicago defense that has recorded 16 interceptions and 24 total takeways this season.
This should be a terrific game with two fantastic defenses playing in an old-fashion NFC North battle. I do believe these teams are similar, but Chicago is the team that people are still not respecting. The Bears defense will come up with the bigger plays here at home, and win this by a field goal or more.
Pick: Bears -2.5
Betting Trends:
- Vikings are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games in November.
- Vikings are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games after allowing less than 150 yards passing in their previous game.
- Vikings are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. NFC.
- Vikings are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 road games.
- Vikings are 36-16-1 ATS in their last 53 games following a ATS win.
- Vikings are 47-22-1 ATS in their last 70 games overall.
- Vikings are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up win.
- Vikings are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games in Week 11.
- Vikings are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Vikings are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games following a bye week.
- Vikings are 1-5 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Bears are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games in Week 11.
- Bears are 6-0-1 ATS in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Bears are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Bears are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games.
- Bears are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. NFC.
- Bears are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after accumulating less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Bears are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. NFC North.
- Bears are 8-3-1 ATS in their last 12 games in November.
- Bears are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games overall.
- Bears are 8-18-1 ATS in their last 27 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Bears are 2-5-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 5-1 in Vikings last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 4-1 in Vikings last 5 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Over is 4-1 in Vikings last 5 road games.
- Over is 4-1 in Vikings last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Under is 21-7 in Vikings last 28 vs. NFC North.
- Over is 5-2 in Vikings last 7 games following a straight up win.
- Under is 5-2 in Vikings last 7 games following a ATS win.
- Under is 13-6 in Vikings last 19 games after allowing less than 150 yards passing in their previous game.
- Under is 28-13 in Vikings last 41 games following a straight up win of more than 14 points.
- Over is 4-0 in Bears last 4 games following a straight up win.
- Over is 5-1 in Bears last 6 games overall.
- Over is 5-1 in Bears last 6 games in November.
- Over is 4-1 in Bears last 5 games on grass.
- Under is 8-3 in Bears last 11 games after accumulating less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Under is 5-2 in Bears last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Over is 7-3 in Bears last 10 vs. NFC North.
- Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Chicago.
- Home team is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings.
- Under is 7-2 in the last 9 meetings.
- Vikings are 3-12 ATS in their last 15 meetings in Chicago.
