NFL Week 6 Vikings at Bears Betting Preview
Minnesota Tries to Survive Without J.J.
Chicago is just 1-4 on the season, but there’s a different buzz surrounding this team in the Windy City heading into the week 6 Vikings at Bears betting matchup. Justin Fields has looked like the real deal the last two games and if he keeps playing like he has Chicago is hopeful that they may finally have their QB of the future.
Minnesota is also just 1-4, and a much more pessimistic 1-4. Kirk Cousins’ future in the Twin Cities is in limbo and the team will be without arguably the best WR in the NFL, Justin Jefferson, for the next 4-6 weeks. Despite the two different vibes surrounding each of these NFC North rivals, it’s still the Vikings who are -3 point road favorites on Sunday at Soldier Field.
Why the Vikings Have Value at -3
Minnesota and Chicago are both 1-4 on the year and the Vikings just lost an 1,800 yard receiver – yet are still -3 point road favorites? There must be some reason the oddsmakers made this line – perhaps a trap play on Chicago – and indeed 56% of the betting public are on the Bears.
Minnesota is undoubtedly going to feel the loss of Jefferson who is on the shelf for 4-6 weeks with a hamstring injury, but they still have some weapons in T.J. Hockenson and Jordan Addison. Who knows, maybe not having to get Jefferson his allotted number of targets will actually help Cousins who has 13 TDs to 4 INTs on the year.
The week 6 Vikings at Bears matchup may not be about Minnesota at all – but rather their opponents. Chicago fans are this excited about a blown 28-7 lead against Denver (31-28) in week 4 – possibly the worst team in the NFL – and a 40-20 victory over a Washington squad on a short week following a 34-31 OT fistfight against division rival Philadelphia?
Why the Bears Have Value at +3
Fields has played 7 great quarters in the last two games aside from a strip sack fumble return for a TD and a late INT in the loss to Denver. With Caleb Williams’ poor performance for USC against Notre Dame on Saturday night, Bears fans seem to be now back all-in on Fields who has 8 TD passes total the last two times out.
Minnesota has the defense that could allow Fields another strong performance. The Vikings rank 22nd in the NFL in passing (240.0 ypg) and allow the 23rd most points to opponents (24.4). Fields’ ball security shouldn’t be an issue either as the Vikings have just 3 takeaways so far this year.
Chicago is also on their mini-bye with extended rest after last Thursday’s 20-point win over Washington. Aside from another strong outing from Fields, the story of that game was a much improved Bears defense that had 5 sacks and held the Commanders to 29 yards rushing. If they can pressure Cousins like that – when he doesn’t have Jefferson as a safety blanket – the Soldier Field crowd should have a feeding frenzy.
Free Week 6 Vikings at Bears Betting Pick
The line of Minnesota being a -3 point favorite on the road just seems off. The Vikings are starting to lose those one score games that they won so many off last season so don’t overthink this one and just take the points.
Free Pick: Bears +3
