NFL Expert Picks: Week 1 Monday Night Football: Vikings at Bears

Are You Ready for some Monday Night Football? Longtime NFC North Rivals do battle tonight and Michael Rathburn shares his plays on the game
NFL Expert Picks: Week 1 Monday Night Football: Vikings at Bears
LIMITED TIME OFFER

Get 25% OFF EVERYTHING

Drafts might be over but the season has just begun. Find your perfect waiver wire player, start your optimal lineup or even build hundreds of DFS lineups in seconds. Ends 9/9. Use promo code FIRSTWEEK.
PROMO CODE FIRSTWEEK

Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears: Odds, Picks, and Predictions for Week 1

The Minnesota Vikings travel to Chicago to take on the Bears in an NFC North divisional matchup on Monday Night Football. The Vikings are starting J.J. McCarthy at quarterback after he missed all of his rookie season, while the Bears added former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their new head coach.

There are great promos available from the leading sports betting apps right here at Rotowire. Check out this BetMGM bonus code, good for up to $1500 in bonus bets if your first bet loses

Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears Betting Odds

Vikings -1.5 (FanDuel -105) / Bears +1.5 (BetMGM -110)

Vikings ML (ESPN Bet -115) / Bears ML (BetMGM +105)

Total OVER 43.5 (FanDuel -110) / UNDER 44.0 (Bet365 -110) 

First-half spread: Vikings -0.5 (-100), Bears +0.5 (-120)
First-half money line: Vikings (-114), Bears (+100)
Vikings total points: 22.5 (Over -108/Under -108)
Bears total points: 21.0 (Over -105/Under -115)

The Bears opened as 1.0 point home favorites , but the money has shifted the line to Vikings -1.5. The line moving to the Vikings is all public perception and hype over J.J. McCarthy

The total opened 44.5 and it climbed as high as 45.5 and dipped as low as 43.0, but it has settled in at 43.5. 

The majority of the bets (63%) have come in on the Vikings, and the handle (58%) has also come in on Minnesota which reflects where the "sharp" money has landed. There is a 5% difference on bets versus handle.

The total sees money on the Under at 83% of total bets, and 79% of the handle. The moneyline shows who has taken a position on the game, and the Vikings have received 68% of the bets and 66% of the handle. 

Key Injuries

Vikings - WR Jordan Addison (S), LT Christian Darrisaw (Q), S Harrison Smith (Q) 

Bears - RB Roschon Johnson (Q), LB T.J. Edwards (O), CB Jaylon Johnson (Q)

Its almost New Years Day, time to fill up the stockings with all the great sportsbook promos we can find. This Fanatics Sportsbook promo to gets you up to $1000 in No Sweat Bets.

Vikings vs. Bears Betting Picks 

TRENDS 

Divisional home dogs in Week 1 are 18-4 against the spread over the last 22 games. 

The Vikings finished 9-2 straight up in their last 11 games. 

Minnesota is 7-1 in their last 8 games against the Bears.

The Bears finished 1-10 in their last 11 games. 

Caleb Williams against the Vikings blitz - 88.9 passing grade, 27/39, 308 passing yards, 3 TD

Williams had one of his best games in 2024 at home against the Vikings going 32/47 for 340 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions. 

Vikings vs. Bears Best Bet: Bears +1.5 for 1 unit (Caesars)

Secondary Bet: Caleb Williams OVER 219.5 passing yards for 1 unit (FanDuel -110)

Vikings vs. Bears Prediction

This is McCarthy's first start and it is on the road on Monday night football. This is a huge statement game for the Bears and I like them to win this game outright.

I think Ben Johnson will elevate this Bears' offense and especially Caleb Williams in this game. 

Bears 20, Vikings 17

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Known as “Rath” in the Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) community, he has helped run operations for two prominent daily fantasy sports startups. Michael has taken his insider knowledge and expertise in daily fantasy sports to the content side. Rath won the 2016 FSWA "Baseball Article of the Year, Online" award and was a finalist for the FSWA Best Baseball Series in 2011.
RotoWire Logo

Continue the Conversation

Join the RotoWire Discord group to hear from our experts and other NFL fans.

Top News

Tools

NFL Draft Kit Logo

NFL Draft Kit

Fantasy Tools

Don’t miss a beat. Check out our 2025 NFL Fantasy Football rankings.