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Minnesota comes into Sunday's game against the Bears as a -3.5 favorite. They have won five of the last six games against Chicago and are 4-2 Against The Sprad in the last six meetings. Minnesota is 5-1 ATS using today's game line.
The Vikings (8-2) hope to “break” the Bears (4-6) and maybe gain ground in the NFC North on Sunday in a matchup between teams headed in opposite directions.
Minnesota comes in with three straight wins after beating Tennessee 23-13 last week, when Sam Darnold threw for two touchdowns and ran for a score. The Vikings are trying to catch first-place Detroit (9-1) and remain ahead of Green Bay (7-3) in a tight division. The Lions visit Indianapolis on Sunday, while the Packers host San Francisco.
The last-place Bears are reeling with four straight losses after falling 20-19 to Green Bay at Soldier Field last week.
Vikings @ Bears
Opening Line - The line opened at Minnesota -3/-3.5
Line Trend - The line has moved between -3 and -3.5.
Sagarin – Sagarin gives us a number of 3.71, which suggests the number is right where it should be.
Action Trend – The action was balanced.
Comparables
- Bengals -3.5 Giants (Bengals 2.83 On The Money) - Road favorite covers.
- 49ers -3.5 Seahawks (San Francisco 3.75 On The Money) - Road favorite covers.
- Jets -3.5 Titans (Jets 3.49 On The Money) - Road favorite covers.
- Jacksonville -3 / -3.5 Houston (road favorite Jacksonville covers with big win) Jacksonville 5.78 Underlay 2.5 to 3 points - Road favorite covers.
- Buffalo -3.5 / -3 Baltimore (home dog covers or pushes with Bills 3 point win) Buffalo 2.37 On the Money - Home dog covers.
- Baltimore -3.5 Jacksonville (home team Jax covers and wins) Bal 3.4 On the Money - Home dog covers.
Vikings Player to Watch
RT Brian O’Neill. The seventh-year veteran has allowed only one sack this season, according to Pro Football Focus analysis, and has not been responsible for any QB pressures over the past three games.
Bears player to watch
QB Caleb Williams. The No. 1 overall draft pick looked more comfortable against Green Bay in the first game with Thomas Brown as offensive coordinator after Shane Waldron was fired. Coming off three rough games in a row, Williams completed 23 of 31 passes for 231 yards. He also ran for a career-high 70 yards.
Key Matchup
Bears offensive line vs. Vikings pass rush. The Vikings had five sacks against the Titans, none of which came on a blitz. Edge rushers Andrew Van Ginkel, Jonathan Greenard and Patrick Jones have combined for 22 sacks, putting the Vikings on pace to have three players with double-digit sack totals in one season for the first time since 1989. The Vikings as a team are tied for third in the NFL with 35 sacks, and Williams has been sacked a league-leading 41 times.
