Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings, TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
Monday, December 20, 2010, 8:30 pm EST, TV: ESPN
Opening Line: Bears -7
Current Line: Bears -8
Opening Total: 34
Current Total: 33
Money Line: Bears -350 / Vikings +290

Thanks to a  New England victory against Green Bay on Sunday night, the Chicago Bears (9-4) can clinch the NFC North division title with a win over the Minnesota Vikings (5-8) on Monday Night Football.  However, the Bears (-8) and Vikings will both have to brave the elements outdoors at TCF Bank Stadium for the first time in 29 years because the Metrodome is still not available to host a game.

Chicago has yet to lose a divisional game and beat Minnesota 27-14 in Week 10 during a five-game winning streak that ended with a 36-7 home loss to New England last week.  The Bears were supposed to thrive in the cold-weather conditions against the Patriots but struggled mightily in all facets of the game.  Fortunately for them, they will not have to face Tom Brady but instead get to prepare for a third-string quarterback for the third time in five games.

The Vikings are expected to start rookie Joe Webb due to injuries to Brett Favre and Tavaris Jackson, who was placed on IR due to turf toe suffered in last Monday’s 21-3 loss to the New York Giants.  Favre saw his NFL record consecutive starts streak end in that game and still has not recovered enough to suit up.  That leaves Webb, who was drafted as a wide receiver out of Alabama-Birmingham in the sixth round of last year’s draft.  He saw very limited action last week in relief of Jackson, completing 2 of 5 passes for 8 yards while rushing once for 16 yards.

Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson was also held to just 26 yards on 14 carries and bruised his knee in a collision with Jackson.  Peterson was limited to 51 yards on 17 carries in the first meeting with Chicago and will be counted on to help his rookie quarterback out even though it will likely be even more difficult for him find room to run since the Bears know he will be the main offensive weapon.  If Peterson is stopped again, the Vikings will have a very hard time scoring.

Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler found it difficult to score against New England but will be facing a Minnesota defense that surrendered a season-high 395 yards to New York.  Cutler threw for 237 yards and three touchdowns in the first meeting with the Vikings and also shredded their secondary for four scores in a 36-30 overtime victory last year.

The Bears are 4-2 against the spread in the last six meetings with Minnesota and have gone 5-1 straight-up away from home this season.  The OVER has cashed in their last three games overall while the UNDER is 4-1 in the last five games for the Vikings, who are 2-6 ATS in their past eight.

Now that you have read this Monday Night Football betting preview featuring the Vikings & Bears, check out the NFL odds on this game at multiple sportsbooks to make sure you get the best football lines.