The online NFL betting consensus is that rookie QB Mitch Trubisky, set to make his first-ever professional start on Monday Night Football against the Vikings, is not going to hocus pocus the Chicago Bears out of their 0-4 hole. “He can’t sprinkle fairy dust,” head coach John Fox said. “Mitch Trubisky is a very good, young player, but he is not a magic wand,” said offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains. He needs not do magic, though; he needs only be Harry Houdini to Mike Glennon’s David Blaine.
- Date: Monday, 9th October
- Time: 8:35 PM
- Venue: Soldier Field
- Sportsbook online NFL betting website odds:
Vikings -3½ (-110) 40½ (-115) -185
Bears +3½ (-110) 40½ (-105) +160
“His skill set is different than Mike,” Loggains said, presumably meaning that Trubisky actually has a skill set. “He is a more mobile guy. He moves well. Mike was your prototypical dropback passer; Mitch does do things differently and we’ll obviously try to put him in some of those situations that he feels more comfortable with.” The Tru Effect will trickle down the rest of the offense. For example, “We’re going to have to hold our blocks longer downfield,” guard Kyle Long said. The receiving unit will also have a chance to improve. Trubisky is not going to magically transform Kendall Wright, Markus Wheaton, and Deonte Thompson from mice to horses, but at least they won’t have to rely on Glennon anymore. The Bears are 2-2 against the online NFL betting spread this season; it’s time to shoot for that straight-up win.
Loggains shares confidence in Trubisky but says team has to play better around him: "He is not a magic wand."
📰: https://t.co/Gud2QSlQLr pic.twitter.com/FtNmX3UFet
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) October 6, 2017
As Brad Biggs says, “Trubisky’s athleticism and ability to extend plays should give the receivers more opportunities to run away from defenders and shake loose.” They, of course, have to get a hold of the ball first, something with which Wheaton, who has not had any catches in two games, is struggling. “I’ve got to catch the ball, man,” he said. “Those are catches I should have. If I have those for Mike, maybe he’s still playing.” Wow, did he just go all Schindler’s List on us? “Collectively we played bad. It’s unfortunate for Mike. Mitch is a first-round quarterback and it will be different because has a different set of skills. With him being mobile it means more scramble plays, more opportunities for us downfield.”
Trubisky’s vaunted mobility will come in handy against the Vikings defense, one of the best in the league, as evidenced by their six sacks of Matt Stafford against the Lions on Sunday. That defense is one of the main reasons the total tends to go under in Minnesota games, as it does, too for Bears games, especially at Soldier Field of all places. The total has gone under in nine of the Chicago’s last 12 games as home dogs. The total went over for the Bears in Thursday’s 14-35 loss to the Packers for the first time since their final game from last season – which was, coincidentally, against the Vikings. That exception made, though, the online NFL betting total has gone under in eight of Chicago’s last 11 games against Minnesota.