Week 12 NFC North Matchup: Vikings at Bears Betting Insights

Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears: NFL Week 12 Matchup Preview and Betting Pick,br>
Where: Soldier Field (Chicago, IL)

When: Sunday November 23rd at 1:00 PM EST

Watch: FOX

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Min -3.5/Chi +3.5

Money Line: Vikes -175/Da Bears +145

Over/Under: 39.5

Note: Make sure you’re wagering at the BEST SPORTSBOOKS!

Preview: NFC North Divisional Clash

An NFC North matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears is set to take place this Sunday afternoon in the Windy City. Minnesota and Chicago have been heading in different directions as of late, but as is true with all divisional contests, there is a lot on the line in this one. There have been some very surprising storylines within both of these teams, for better or worse, and it will be quite interesting to see how they factor in to this match. This will be the first of two games between these opponents, and there is a clear need for a victory by both. Each side will be looking to enforce their preferred playstyle into this game, and the winner will no doubt do that more successfully. Can these teams overcome their weaknesses and put together a winning effort this Sunday? I have my eyes set on a winning play, but keep reading to find out why I am backing one team in particular.

Minnesota Vikings: Balanced Offense and Dominant Defense

The Minnesota Vikings find themselves at 8-2 on the 2024 season, and if it were not for the Detroit Lions, they would be firmly in first place in the NFC North. This team has seen phenomenal play on both sides of the ball and are in the midst of a three game winning streak entering Week 12. Quarterback Sam Darnold started the season off with a bang and propelled the Vikings to win after win. His play has been a bit inconsistent as of late, but he still has thrown for 19 touchdowns and 2387 yards on the season. If he can limit his interceptions (10 on the season) the Vikings offense can keep pace with any team in the league. At just 88 yards shy of 1000 on the year, Justin Jefferson has proven to once again be the best receiver in the league. He has caught five touchdowns from Darnold and is the clear number one threat in this offense. Darnold also has the luxury of the return of tight end TJ Hockenson and has also found a way to improve his connection with receiver Jordan Addison. In the running game, Aaron Jones has been a consistent work horse and has racked up nearly 700 yards on 157 touches. He has only found the endzone twice this season, but the Vikings as a whole have been able to average 24.4 points per game which places them inside the top 10. The Vikings defense has been one of the best stories in 2024 and specifically their run defense has given opponents difficulty each week. The Vikings currently possess the number one rushing defense and have held their opposition to just 74.4 rushing yards per game on average. Minnesota is also top 5 in points allowed per game (17.0) and top 10 in 3rd down defense, allowing teams to convert just 34.4% of their chances.

Chicago Bears: Struggling Offense, Solid Defense

The Chicago Bears had so much promise entering the year after drafting rooking QB Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in the draft. At 4-6 on the season, and currently in last place in the division, it is clear that they have underwhelmed significantly. Williams has the raw talent to succeed in this league, but has performed inconsistently as many rookies do. The pressure is building each week, and after firing the offensive coordinator, it appears that this may not be the last domino to fall. The Bears’ offense features some of the best skill players in the league with Keenan Allen, DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Cole Kmet, but it has been difficult to establish any routine connection. DJ Moore has been the leading receiver so far but has accumulated just 460 yards to date. In his last five games, he has only crossed the 50 receiving yard threshold once. Chicago’s offense currently ranks 30th in the NFL with just an average of 173.8 passing yards per game. Running back D’Andre Swift has been a bright spot in this offense and has accounted for 635 rushing yards on the year. While Swift has found the endzone five times this season, the Chicago rushing attack and points per game average only rank 22nd in the NFL. The Bears defense has had to take on a brunt of extra work due to their offensive inefficiencies. This group has performed well and is top-10 in pass defense, points per game allowed, and 3rd down defense. As a whole, Chicago has performed much better at home and all four victories have come within the confines of Soldier Field.

Betting Pick: Chicago Bears Moneyline (+160)

A home matchup for the Bears might be exactly what the doctor ordered to right the ship. This group is far too skilled to continue performing the way they have been through their first 10 games. Call this one more of a hunch than a bet based off of recent play and trends, but I fully believe in Chicago’s ability to take care of business this week. While the Vikings have been one of the NFL’s best stories, I can see this game being a bit of a trap as they may overlook an opponent that does not have much going favorably at the moment.