Bears too good for Vikings

AFTER the self-congratulation that accompanied my avoidance of the Steelers and Patriots at their respective prices last night, the question of hypocrisy could certainly be raised if the Bears were tipped to win in Minnesota tonight.

Chicago is best priced 3/10 as they head to play the first outdoor game in Minnesota for more than 20 years, as the Vikings Metrodome home still not fit for play after a roof collapse due to snowfall over a week ago. However, the Vikings are in such a sorry state that 3/10 is a price that is not best left on the table. Minnesota were soundly beaten last week by the Giants in their first game without Brett Favre under center, and they are down to their third-string quarterback this Monday night as Favre’s replacement, Tavaris Jackson, has been placed on IR after suffering from turf-toe. That means that Joe Webb, a former 6th round pick, will get the start against a Bears defence that managed to hold the combination of Adrian Peterson and Brett Favre in relative check in a win at Soldier Field back in week 14. Webb's start for the Vikings coincides with the team’s first game of the year after their elimination from playoff contention was confirmed, and while interim Head Coach Lesley Frazier has a lot resting on the game as he looks to convince fans and management that he deserves the job on a permanent basis, the season cannot end quickly enough for the majority of this Vikings squad.

Further, there are not many teams better suited to adapt to the bitterly cold conditions predicted on Monday night. Although the Bears were blown out in the snow at home last weekend by New England, that loss may say more about the Patriots than the Bears. Certainly, Chicago has not earned a place amongst the best teams in the league just yet, but they are a team that knows how to win in cold weather - they are 10-0 in their last ten games against dome/warm weather teams in freezing conditions. The Bears can also wrap up the NFC North with a win after Green Bay lost in New England on Sunday night, and the squad has been making all the right noises about "getting back up after being knocked out" in the Patriots game last Sunday. The Bears fell apart both offensively and defensively in that game, but prior to that Jay Cutler was looking in control of the Bears offensive unit. In wins over Detroit and Philadelphia in the previous two weeks, Cutler had managed five touchdowns and no interceptions. Against a Vikings defence that came close to handing it in last week against the Giants, it looks likely that Cutler will get back in the groove. Cutler also passed for 237 yards and three touchdowns in the Bears win over the Vikings earlier in the year.

All in all, taking 3/10 about a team on the road in a divisional game may seem to go against the reasoning I employed last night which allowed the avoidance of taking a loss on the Steelers/Jets game. However, even with that in mind, the Bears are too tempting to reject against a Vikings team heading one way and starting a third-string quarterback. Expect the Bears to have punched their playoff ticket with an NFC North title come Tuesday morning.

SUGGESTION -

Bears WIN (3/10 @ Coral)