Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears odds, picks and predictions

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) scrambles during the first half against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.

The Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears play on Monday Night Football in Week 1 at Soldier Field in Chicago. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. (ABC / ESPN). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's NFL odds around the Vikings vs. Bears odds and make our expert NFL picks and predictions for the best bets.

The Vikings swept the regular-season series in 2024, winning 30-27 in overtime on Nov. 24 in Chicago, while pushing at most shops with Minnesota laying 3 points. The Over (39.5) easily cashed, too. On Dec. 16 in the Twin Cities, the Vikings won 30-12 to cover as a 7-point favorite as the Under (43.5) connected. Minnesota has won 7 of the past 8 meetings between the NFC North rivals, while going 5-2-1 against the spread (ATS) since Dec. 20, 2021.

QB JJ McCarthy missed last season due to a torn meniscus, so for all intents and purposes, this is his rookie season. He last appeared in a game situation on Jan. 8, 2024, when the Michigan Wolverines topped the Washington Huskies 34-13 in the CFP National Championship game in New Orleans.

The Vikings will be without WR Jordan Addison, who is suspended for the first 3 games due to a violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy. As a result, the Vikings did bring back WR Adam Thielen via trade from the Carolina Panthers to help their young signal caller.

Bears QB Caleb Williams completed 62.5% of his passes for 3,541 yards, 20 TDs and 6 INTs with 489 rushing yards in his rookie campaign last season. Against the Vikings, Williams completed 32-of-47 passes for 340 yards, 2 TDs and 0 INTs in the first meeting in Chicago, while completing 18-of-31 passes for 191 yards, 1 TD and 0 INTs in mid-December in the Twin Cities.

For the Bears, 2 drafted rookies could make a splash, as RB Kyle Monangai is battling for touches, while TE Colston Loveland looks to make an impact in the passing game.

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Vikings at Bears odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Sunday at 8:01 p.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Vikings -120 (bet $120 to win $100) | Bears +100 (bet $100 to win $100)
Against the spread: Vikings -1.5 (-110) | Bears +1.5 (-110)
Over/Under (O/U): 44 (O: -110 | U: -110)

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Vikings at Bears key injuries

Vikings

OT Christian Darrisaw (knee) questionable
S Harrison Smith (illness) doubtful
DL Elijah Williams (hamstring) out

Bears

LB T.J. Edwards (hamstring) doubtful
CB Jaylon Johnson (calf, groin) questionable
RB Roschon Johnson (foot) questionable

Vikings at Bears picks and predictions

Prediction

Bears 23, Vikings 20

Moneyline

The BEARS (+100) are worth playing lightly at home, as they open their season under the lights with some big-time expectations.

The reason to play against the Vikings is two-fold. One, we don't really know what we're getting in McCarthy yet. We haven't seen him playing in an NFL regular-season game yet, and it's uncertain how he'll react. We've seen Williams, and his arrow is point upward.

Against the spread

There is no reason to take the Bears +1.5 (-110) over playing the moneyline, unless you're dead-set on Minnesota winning, but only by a single point.

When a team is an underdog of 2.5 or fewer points, it's a good rule of thumb to play the moneyline for a better value.

PASS.

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Over/Under

UNDER 44 (-110) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at most.

The Under is 4-1 in the past 5 meetings in this series, and the total has gone low in 4 of the past 5 meetings in Chicago, too, and the Under has cashed in all 4 games which ended in regulation in that span.

The Under cashed in Week 1 for both of these teams in 2024, too, and the total has gone low in the past 3 openers for Minnesota, while Chicago has hit the Under in the past 2 Week 1 battles.

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears odds, picks and predictions

Reporting by Daniel Dobish, Sportsbook Wire / Sportsbook Wire

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