Vikings vs. Bears Prediction and Odds for Week 18 (Does Anybody Want to Win This Game?)

Well, Week 17 wasn't good if you're a Minnesota Vikings fan.

The Vikings went up to Lambeau and got absolutely pounded by Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, giving up any shot at the No. 1 seed in the NFC and letting their division rivals stay alive for the playoffs.

It was a 41-17 final, but it probably could've ended even worse if the Packers didn’t call off the dogs in the fourth quarter. The Chicago Bears just laid down in Detroit and let the Lions roll to a 41-10 win. 

The Bears are actually the team with the most to lose in this game, and they could lose it with a win. Right now, they’ve still got a shot at the No. 1 pick and with a loss they’re at worst No. 2, but a win could jump them out of a prime selection. 

Let’s get into the odds and try to figure out who wants to win this game. 

Vikings vs. Bears Odds, Spread and Total

Chicago and Minnesota Betting Trends

• Chicago is 5-10-1 ATS
• Minnesota is 6-9-1 ATS
• The Over is 11-5 in Minnesota’s games
• The Under is 7-1 in last eight meetings in Chicago

Vikings vs. Bears Prediction and Pick

So here’s the thing, we know the Bears don’t want to win, but the Vikings might not want to either.

The farthest that they can fall is to No. 3 and while in all likelihood you’d be giving up a home game in the divisional round, you’d also avoid Green Bay if it gets in as the No. 7 seed.

The New York Giants are sitting there at No. 6 and the Vikings just beat them in Week 16. If Minnesota holds onto the No. 2 seed, it could play either the Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions, who beat them in Week 15, or the Packers who dominated them in Week 17.

If I was Kevin O’Connell I’d keep Justin Jefferson and Kirk Cousins healthy and hope to play New York. 

I do doubt that Minnesota would not play its starters, but it’s possible. It’s also possible that the Bears say, we’ve made it to the end of the year with a healthy Justin Fields and he’s our franchise QB. Let's put him in bubble wrap on the sidelines and not risk losing him for next season. 

Assuming everyone does play, the Bears actually matchup pretty well against Minnesota. The Vikings are terrible at stopping the pass, but they’re also 20th against the run and Chicago runs the ball better and more often than any team in the league. On the other side, Chicago’s defensive weakness is against the run, it is 31st, but Minnesota is 28th in rush yards per game. 

The last time these teams met, Minnesota only won 29-22 back in October, so I worry about them winning even if they do play everyone. This game could possibly be a one-game tankathon, so I’ll stay away until we have clarity later in the week. 

Lean: Wait for clarity on each team's starters

Follow all Josh Yourish’s bets HERE.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change