In the NFC North, there are two clear Pro Football odds favorites and two teams that are a difficult read. The Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers are easy to tout for NFC playoff spots. On the other hand, the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings are a challenge to handicap. On Monday night, the Vikings will visit the Bears in the season opener for both clubs. The Vikings do have some credibility as a recent playoff team. Meanwhile, the Bears are losing credibility yet again. Second-year QB Caleb Williams and his finger nail polish are not inspiring confidence.
Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears NFL Betting Information
| Date and Time: | Monday, September 8, 2025, 8:15 p.m. ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | Soldier Field, Chicago, IL |
| TV Coverage: | ABC and ESPN |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | -2 ( -102 ) | 44½ ( -104 ) | -130 |  |
| Bears | +2 ( -118 ) | 44½ ( -116 ) | EV | |
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Minnesota Vikings Team Overview
Accordingly, the Vikings could be the most underrated team in the NFL. They’re underdogs to make the playoffs. Yet they have one of the best rosters in the league. They boast a top-three offensive line, a strong receiving corps, a solid rushing attack, a defense that allowed the fifth-fewest points a year ago, and an exceptional coaching staff. Quarterback is the lone question mark. But if Kevin O’Connell could get Sam Darnold to go 14-3, the sky is the limit with J.J. McCarthy, unless he’s a total Sports betting bust.
When J.J. McCarthy was lost for the season with an injury, no one gave the Vikings much of a chance. Consider that Sam Darnold had been terrible for most of his career, after all. So how could the Vikings possibly be competitive every week with him at the helm? Well, everyone was proven wrong, as Darnold had a great year to help lead the Vikings to a 14-3 record. The season concluded with a first-round playoff exit, but Darnold still played way above expectations. Still, Darnold has moved on as McCarthy is ready to take over.
Chicago Bears Team Overview
The Bears were everyone’s dark-horse sleeper entering the 2024 season. But they were disappointed with some shaky play from Caleb Williams. Still, many gamblers are on the Chicago bandwagon. While things might seem better now with Ben Johnson being the new head coach and the offensive line undergoing a complete overhaul, there are some question marks. Thus, that should make anyone skeptical that a playoff appearance is a sure thing.
Namely, Caleb Williams had some bright moments in his rookie year. But his initial NFL season was a disappointment overall. Two things defined it. First, it was when he appeared to have a complete mental lapse at the end of the Thanksgiving game. He let the clock run out at the end of regulation while trailing despite having timeouts available.
Head coach Matt Eberflus was blamed for this and lost his job as a result. But Williams was guilty of the same offense several weeks later in a Thursday night loss against the Seahawks. New head coach Ben Johnson, known as an offensive mastermind, should be able to maximize Williams’ potential and prevent such an incident from happening again.
Additionally, Williams held the ball for an eternity in the pocket. He was sacked a league-high 68 times as a result. Because of this huge flaw in Williams’ game, Chicago’s front office decided that bolstering the offensive line was a priority.
Vikings at Bears SBG Free Picks
On this occasion, the Vikings are the more stable and proven team with the Pro Football lines.
Vikings at Bears SBG Best Bets: Minnesota Vikings.