Vikings vs Bears: Monday Night Football Bets to Make on Week 1

Best Moneyline Pick: Bears (-120) Over Vikings

This might be McCarthy’s first regular-season start, but it’s the Bears’ game to lose. Chicago opened as a pick'em or small underdog, but bettors smashed the early line and flipped them to –1.5 favorites, now sitting around –120 on the moneyline.

Why? Momentum, coaching, and public sentiment. The Bears brought in Ben Johnson, the brains behind Detroit’s electric offense. He’s now calling the shots for a Bears unit that added depth on both sides of the ball. Meanwhile, 78% of spread bets are backing Chicago, according to early action reports.

On the flip side, the Vikings are rolling with a rookie QB and a defense that ranked bottom 10 in passing yards allowed last season. Betting on a debut QB, on the road, in primetime? Risky. Take the Bears moneyline while the price is still manageable.

This is one of those NFL betting odds spots where early steam isn’t just noise—it’s gospel.

Best Spread Pick: Bears –1.5 vs Vikings

Point spread betting is all about margins, and this one's razor thin. But the Bears at –1.5 is still a gift.

Historically, Soldier Field has been a tough place for Minnesota. The Vikings have lost 5 of their last 7 visits, and with J.J. McCarthy likely to see exotic blitzes early, it’s not exactly a warm welcome. The Bears’ defense added speed in the offseason and could force rookie mistakes early.

On the flip side, Chicago’s offense—now designed around quick passes and YAC monsters like DJ Moore—fits the new NFL model. Add in a healthy backfield and you’ve got a team ready to cover small numbers.

With early NFL odds and predictions leaning Chicago, and the line holding under a field goal, this is one of the NFL betting spreads worth jumping on now.

Best Totals Pick: Under 44.5 Points

This one has “grind fest” written all over it. Both teams have questions at quarterback, and Week 1 games are notoriously slow starters. The over under sits at 44.5, and we’re leaning under.

Minnesota’s run game is likely to be featured early, protecting McCarthy and eating clock. The Bears, while improved, will still be building chemistry in a new system. Plus, both defenses are middle-tier units that feast on rookie mistakes and stalled drives.

Last season, Monday night football games averaged just 41.6 total points, and early September matchups are often sloppy. For bettors tracking NFL odds by week, this one feels like an outlier. Smart money takes the under and lets the clock do the work.

Our Parlay Picks for the Vikings vs the Bears Game

Safer Parlay: Bears –1.5, Under 44.5, Eagles –6.5

Want to build a Week 1 three-legger you can flex without sweating too hard? This one mixes logic and value:

• Bears –1.5 (home team, rookie QB fade)
  
  
• Under 44.5 (slow start + defensive looks)
  
  
• Eagles –6.5 vs Cowboys (defending champs, strong ATS trends)
  
  

At roughly +580 odds, it’s not a lotto ticket—but it’s smart. This parlay leans into NFL betting props and early-week steam with some strong historical cover trends. Clean, classic, and bankroll-friendly.

Riskier Parlay: Bears Moneyline, Vikings First to Score, Game Goes to Overtime

Feeling spicy? Here’s your chaos ticket:

• Bears Moneyline (short fav, better coach)
  
  
• Vikings First to Score (scripted plays + nerves on Bears’ side)
  
  
• Game Goes to OT (defensive slugfest potential)
  
  

This one pays in the ballpark of +1400, and yeah—it’s a bit wild. But stranger things have happened in Week 1. If you’re looking for NFL betting odds with boom potential, this might be your angle.

Final Whistle

Week 1 closes strong with Vikings and the Bears on Monday night football, and it’s one of those games where public hype meets real betting value. Watch the line movement, lean into matchups (rookie QB vs rebuilt D), and don’t force overs just because it’s primetime.

And for those wondering:
Monday night football what time? Kickoff’s at 8:15 PM ET.
Monday night football where to watch? ESPN.
Monday night football is on what channel tonight? Still ESPN (with ManningCast on ESPN2).
And if you’re here for the Monday night football song or theme—you know it’s already stuck in your head.

Check out our full betting toolset to start spotting profitable lines.