Since we're getting to that time where folks want to start putting money on the NFL action for this weekend, let's take a look at all of the odds and ends for the Sunday Night Football match-up between the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears. To do so, we'll get some help from our friends at Odds Shark.
Taking a look at what Odds Shark has for this, the point spread for this one has the Bears as a three-point favorite at home (although one betting location shows Chicago as a two-point favorite). Since, as we've stated on numerous occasions, home-field advantage is usually good for three points, so this game is pretty much viewed as a toss-up.
The over/under for this one is anywhere between 41.5 and 42.5, and that makes for an interesting betting conundrum. Neither of these teams are exactly lighting it up on offense so far this year, with the Vikings and Bears ranked 16th and 18th in scoring offense, respectively. The Vikings have been a little better defensively, currently ranked 9th in the NFL in points allowed, with Chicago sitting at 17th. Pass defense is a weakness for both of these teams, as they're both in the bottom quarter of the league in that category, but it remains to be seen if either passing offense can take advantage of it. The Bears are ranked 23rd in the NFL in terms of passing yardage this season, while the Vikings are the second-worst passing offense in the NFL.
With the struggles of the Chicago offensive line and the Vikings' pass rush having generated the second-most sacks in the NFL thus far, Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler should be consistently under siege in this one like he was on Monday night when Chicago lost to the Detroit Lions. Even with the Vikings' recent struggles at Soldier Field. . .the team has only won in Chicago once in the last decade. . .that might be enough to get Minnesota a close victory.
For entertainment purposes only. . .if I were a betting man, I would be tempted to take the Vikings and the points, and take the under as far as total points are concerned.