Early Vikings vs. Bears Prediction, Odds & Picks for MNF: Week 1 NFL, Sept. 8
My best early Vikings vs. Bears predictions as part of our NFL predictions for Week 1 break down final game of the season's first week when NFC North rivals clash. Kickoff between the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears from Soldier Field in Chicago is set for 8:15 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN).
Monday Night Football will showcase a new era for both teams, with Ben Johnson making his debut as Chicago's head coach and Minnesota quarterback J.J. McCarthy making his first NFL start. My NFL picks focus on the total, while the Vikings remain the 1.5-point betting favorite.
💰 Early Vikings vs. Bears prediction & best bet
Stay ahead with the rest of our early NFL predictions.
⬇️ Under 44.5 (-110 at BetMGM) ⭐⭐⭐
I came within an inch (I know it was an inch due to the accuracy of my new virtual measurement device) of backing the Bears (+1.5). Some of the reasons I like the Bears in the opener also pertain to my Under pick.
McCarthy makes his regular-season debut on the road in a hostile environment against a Bears defense that last season received the 10th-best coverage rating, according to PFF.
While it wasn't an elite unit overall, the defense was the only reason Chicago didn't lose more than 12 games.
McCarthy won't have the suspended Jordan Addison at his disposal. And while Justin Jefferson should suit up, which Matt Burke discussed in his Jefferson injury update, I'm dubious about how effective the 22-year-old signal caller will be in getting the Offensive Player of the Year odds contender the ball.
Yes, Jefferson is a freak of nature and probably won't miss a beat despite missing much of training camp, but the impressionable quarterback needs more reps to build chemistry with his primary target.
And then there's the Bears offense, which should be immeasurably superior to last year's unit. However, that, too, should take time to optimize. Plus, Johnson's first task at hand is facing last season's second-best defensive DVOA unit.
There is uncertainty in Brian Flores' secondary, but his defensive line has the potential to be a top-five unit. The total is set at 43.5 points across our best sports betting apps, with BetMGM offering the best price at -110 odds on the Under.
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📊 Vikings vs. Bears odds: Week 1
NFL odds update live in real time.
📈 Vikings vs. Bears opening odds
- Moneyline: Vikings -115 | Bears -105
- Spread: Vikings -1.5 (-105) | Bears +1.5 (-1115)
- Over/Under: O44.5 (-110) | U44.5 (-110)
🔍 Vikings vs. Bears odds analysis
The total opened at 44.5 points and now hovers between 43.5 and 44 points at the best sports betting sites. I suspect it will continue to hover in this range. With the wagers split Over (47%) and Under (53%).
Meanwhile, the Vikings are the 1.5-point betting favorite, the same number they opened with. The wagering split is even closer there, with the Vikings seeing 51% of the wagers as of Thursday morning.
⛅ Vikings vs. Bears weather watch
It's expected to be a clear night in Chicago for the first Monday Night Football game of the year, with a projected temperature of 60°F. Check out Liam Fox's full NFL weather report for all 12 outdoor games this weekend.
🚑 Vikings vs. Bears injury report
📺 How to watch Vikings vs. Bears
- When: Monday, Sept. 8
- Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Where: Soldier Field (Chicago)
- How to watch: ABC and ESPN
💡 NFL predictions for Week 1
- Early Cowboys vs. Eagles prediction
- Early Chiefs vs. Chargers prediction
- Early Ravens vs. Bills prediction
- Early Vikings vs. Bears prediction
❓ Vikings vs. Bears FAQs
Who is favored to win Vikings vs. Bears?
The Vikings are -120 favorites to beat the Bears, with those odds implying a 54.55% chance to win with a $10 bet returning an $8.33 profit. The Bears sit as high as +110 odds across the best NFL betting sites with a 47.62% implied probability and an $11 profit on a $10 bet.
What are the opening odds for Vikings vs. Bears?
The Vikings opened as the 1.5-point favorite on the point spread to beat the rival Bears. The total opened at 44.5 points and has already dropped to 43.5.
How do NFL odds work?
When betting on NFL odds, the point spread shows how many points the favorite needs to win by in order to cash the bet. For example, a favorite of -3 must win by more than 3 points to cover the spread, while an underdog at +3 must win outright or lose by fewer than 3 points to cover the spread.
Moneyline odds represent the payout for picking the outright winner (+200 means a $100 bet wins $200, while -200 means a $200 bet wins $100). Over/Unders let you wager on whether the combined total will be higher or lower than the set number.
You can determine the payouts and implied probabilities for any wager - or convert odds to different formats - with our odds converter.
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