Bears vs. Vikings 2021 NFL Week 18 Odds, Analysis & Prediction

By Carlos Chacon • January 4, 2022

The second and third-place NFC North teams at the U.S. Bank Stadium this Sunday. This weekend brings together a Bears vs Vikings clash that culminates Week 18 for both teams. Despite elimination from playoff contention, there’s still plenty of reason for both teams to force the team. This gives the two sides a shot at improving their draft position, which is of paramount importance if they want to come back with an improved squad in September 2022.

NitroBetting presents game info that highlights event details, team and player stats, the latest NFL betting odds, trends, and our very own expert predictions. Get a full preview of the contest down below.

Bears vs. Vikings Information

After missing the last two games with an ankle injury, Coach Nagy hopes to see Justin Fields back for the season finale.https://t.co/j9LSe3EYcg
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) January 3, 2022

When: Sunday, January 9, 2022, 4:25 PM ET
Where: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
TV: FOX
Radio: WBBM Newsradio 780 AM (Bears) / KFAN 100.3 FM (Vikings)
Live Stream:NFL Network, NFL League Pass
NFL Odds: TBA

Why Bet on the Chicago Bears?

The Bears will try to retaliate from their 17-9 defeat to the Vikings in Week 15. They averaged 27 points in their last two games, which is significantly better than their overall average of 18.4 points (26th) per game. Most of their offensive threat comes from rushing plays. The team records 120.5 rushing yards per game and is the 11th-best record in the league right now. As for their passing game, the Bears document the fewest passing yards in the league at 183.8 per game.

Going over the defense, the Bears boast one of the best passing statistics in the league. They limit competitors to 189.1 opponent passing yards (third) per game. However, the defensive unit falls short when it comes to rushing defense. The team averages 126.4 opponent rushing yards (24th) per game in this department.

Starting quarterback Justin Fields is still out of commission due to an ankle injury. But, head coach Matt Nagy hopes that the rookie returns in time for their final game of the season. Andy Dalton holds onto the position while Fields is out. And since this is their last game of the season and are out of the playoff picture, we might even see several third options make their way to the field, including Nick Foles.

Why Bet on the Minnesota Vikings?

The Vikings hope to come back from back-to-back losses. They return home after a lopsided defeat to the Packers, 37-10. But in spite of that, the squad looks back at their most recent win, which was against the Bears in Week 15.

The hosts have more to give on the offensive end of the spectrum. Although the side cannot match the Bears’ rushing statistics, they do enough to produce adequate numbers. The Vikings average 114.1 rushing yards (15th) per game. Conversely, passing is where they do most of the damage. The team documents 250.7 passing yards (11th) per game. As a team, the Vikings recorded 24.6 points (14th) and 364.8 total yards (12th) per game.

The Vikings are going to have their hands full defensively. They hold one of the worst opponent yards records at 385.4 (31st) per game. Additionally, their rushing defense will be tested by a persistent Bears offense. This is where the hosts can win or lose the game.

Starting quarterback Kirk Cousins is out after testing positive for COVID-19 on December 31, 2021. This means Sean Mannion fills the spot on Sunday night, including several second stringers that did not see much playing time in 2021.

Bears vs. Vikings Betting Trends

The Bears are 3-2 in the last five road games against the Vikings (3-2 ATS).
The Bears are 2-2 in the last four games (2-2 ATS).
The totals went over in three of the Bears’ last five road games against the Vikings.
The Vikings are 6-4 in the last ten home games against the Bears (5-5 ATS).
The Vikings are 3-2 in the last five games at the U.S. Bank Stadium (2-3 ATS).
The totals went under in six of the Vikings’ last ten home games against the Bears.

Bears vs. Vikings Expert Betting Predictions

The Vikings have home-field advantage and a win ahead of the Bears in the overall standings. This gives the hosts a slight advantage on paper. But for all that, this is not enough to keep the Bears at bay. The margin for error is narrow for the Vikings in this one. The visitors can do enough to cover the spread and get Vikings in trouble. Additionally, the Bears are the better team in the past two weeks. We expect plenty of pace coming from the visitors in the final game of the season. Ultimately, this game might go down the wire and promise edge-of-your-seat thrills from start to end.

Check out our latest sports betting guides for the 2021 NFL Regular Season. Stay tuned for more Football previews and articles and don’t forget to check out the latest football betting odds at our online Bitcoin sportsbook.

*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.