NFL Football
2012-12-09 - Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States: NFL Football
Sunday 9 December 2012 - Kick Off 1pm
6pm (British Time)
Preview
The NFL have had the right idea in some ways of making sure there are a number of Divisional games in the final few weeks of the season, although I am not convinced that having teams play each other twice in a short space of time is the way forward.
This is a big game for both teams as the NFC North is still up for grabs- the Chicago Bears (8-4) can put the Minnesota Vikings (6-6) away in the Division with another win over them, although the Vikings could put themselves in with a strong chance of making the Play Offs with a victory.
Minnesota will need Adrian Peterson to have a big game if they are to beat the Bears and he has been the 'Comeback Player of the Year' in my opinion, even ahead of Peyton Manning. Peterson has helped the Vikings to 5.5 yards per carry this season and is on course to reach 2000 yards on the ground for the season. I expect he will be able to get himself established as the Bears have not been the best at stopping the run.
Without Peterson picking up yardage on the ground, the Vikings will struggle as Christian Ponder has regressed in the last few weeks of the season. He is playing behind an Offensive Line that has struggled to protect him, while the absence of Percy Harvin has limited their passing game with receiving threats not enough to worry Chicago. However, the Bears are missing Tim Jennings for this game and have stopped creating the turnovers that fuelled their early season form and Ponder may have a little more success.
On the other side of the ball, I expect the pressure will be on Jay Cutler to help his team again after he almost led them back to a victory against the Seattle Seahawks last weekend. Cutler should have significant success throwing the ball, especially as the Minnesota pass rush has slowed in recent games.
Matt Forte should also get the running game up and running against a Vikings Defense that has allowed over 115 yards per game on the ground. Forte was a surprise starter against the Seahawks last weekend and played well enough in that game to think he will have success in this one and further open the passing game for Cutler and Brandon Marshall.
Head to Head
Chicago beat Minnesota by 18 points at home earlier this season and have now won 6 in a row against the Vikings in this series.
The Bears have won on their last 2 visits to Minnesota, including a 17-13 win here last season.
Prediction
The Bears may have been caught looking ahead last week in their overtime loss against Seattle considering they have a couple of Divisional games coming up that could give them a chance to win the NFC North.
However, the Minnesota Vikings will be desperate and that makes this a closer game than what recent form may have suggested. I like the Bears to win this game and cover the spread thanks to their recent win over Minnesota when they dominated them in most aspects on both sides of the ball.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Minnesota Vikings 17-20 Chicago Bears
Gooner’s Statistical Value Bet
I'll back the Chicago Bears -2.5 Points @ 1.90
