Previews and betting tips for the 2024 NFL season - Vikings and Bears
The 2024 NFL season kicks off with a Thursday/Friday doubleheader starting Sept. 5 with the full Week 1 Sunday schedule Sept. 8. The two-time defending Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs (-3, 46.5) host the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, Sept. 5 in an AFC playoff rematch with those two teams the AFC favorites to reach Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9, 2025 in New Orleans. The Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears are trying to recover from 7-10 seasons in 2023, and both have new quarterbacks with Sam Darnold now wearing purple as the starter, and the Bears No. 1 overall draft pick in rookie Caleb Williams and a solid class of rookies creating the most excitement in Chicago in many years. See season win totals and the Vikings and Bears schedules, odds and informatino you can bet on.
NFL Week 1 Matchups And Odds
But as the 2024 season kicks off following training camp and NFLX, football and fantasy fans get their juices flowing. Sports bettors are pouring through the teams schedules, rosters, stats, odds, futures and props and making bets at leading online sportsbooks. That includes on the AFC and NFC teams with the NFC North Lions and Packers among the betting favorites to win the NFC.
NFC West - 49ers and Rams
NFC West - Seahawks and Cardinals
NFC East - Eagles and Cowboys
NFC East - Commanders and Giants
NFC North - Lions and Packers
NFL Scoring
Last season the NFL average scoring per game was 43.5 points, down from 43.8 in 2022 and 46.0 points per game in 2021. The record scoring of 49.6 points per game in 2020 seems gone, but new NFL kickoff rules will appear to improve starting field position by 2-5 yards with scoring expected to increase by at least 1.5 points per game.
Football odds from BetOnline and top online sportsbooks refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting.
Minnesota Vikings
Season Win Total: 6.5 (Over -125)
Division Odds: +750 / NFC Odds: +3500 / Super Bowl Odds: +7000
Record Last 2 Years: 7-10, 13-4
Head Coach: Kevin O'Connell (3rd season)
Vikings Schedule, Odds and Props
Division games and advance point spreads (DraftKings)
Week 4 at Green Bay Packers (MIN +4 / 45)
Week 7 Detroit Lions (MIN +3.5 / 48)
Week 12 at Chicago Bears (MIN +3.5 / 45.5)
Week 15 Chicago Bears (MIN +1 / 46) MNF
Week 17 Green Bay Packers (N/A)
Week 18 at Detroit Lions (MIN +5.5 / 47)
Other Key Games
Week 1 at New York Giants (MIN -1.5 / 41)
Week 2 San Francisco 49ers (MIN +6.5 / 46.5)
Week 3 Houston Texans (MIN +1 / 4.5)
Week 5 New York Jets (MIN +4 / 44.5) London
Week 8 at Los Angeles Rams (MIN +3.5 / 45.5) Thurs
Week 9-11 Colts, at Jaguars, at Titans AFC South
Week 16 at Seattle Seahawks (MIN +3 / 45.5)
Bye: Week 6
Home: Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, Arizona, Houston, Indianapolis, San Francisco, Atlanta, NY Jets (London)
Away: Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, Jacksonville, LA Rams, Seattle, Tennessee, NY Giants
Key Player Props (regular season at BetOnline)
QB Sam Darnold - O/U 3,500 Passing Yards / 21.5 Passing TD's / 11.5 INT
RB Aaron Jones - O/U 750.5 Rushing Yards / 5.5 Rush TD's / 325.5 Rec Yds / 42.5 Receptions
WR Justin Jefferson - O/U 1,300.5, Rec Yds / 94.5 Receptions / 7.5 Rec TD's
LB Jonathan Greenard - O/U 8.5 Sacks / S Camryn Bynum 125.5 Tackles & Assists
Stats and Notes (check back ahead of season for more betting notes). NFC North Vikings and Bears handicapping and research includes sources and stats from beat writers, team sites and press notes, bettors and newsletters or betting guides like VSiN, Sharp Football, Playbook, CleveAnalytics, ESPN Stats & Info and more including FairwayJay's proprietary data base and stats.
The Vikings are one of four teams that play three straight road games. Over the last two seasons, teams in that role are 8-19 SU. (Check back for more)
Pro Football Focus Offensive Line Rankings Entering 2024 Season (Vikings No. 13, Bears No. 11)
Betting:
Chicago Bears
Season Win Total: 8.5 (Over -160)
Division Odds: +350 / NFC Odds: +1400 / Super Bowl Odds: +3000
Record Last 2 Years: 7-10, 3-14
Head Coach: Matt Eberflus (3rd season)
Bears Schedule, Odds and Props
Division games and advance point spreads
Week 11 Green Bay Packers (N/A)
Week 12 Minnesota Vikings (CHI -1.5 / 4)
Week 13 at Detroit Lions (CHI +4 / 50) Thurs, Thanksgiving
Week 15 at Minnesota Vikings (CHI -1 / 46) MNF
Week 16 Detroit Lions (CHI +1 / 47)
Week 18 at Green Bay Packers (NA)
Other Key Games
Week 1 Tennessee Titans (CHI -4 / 44.5)
Week 2 at Houston Texans (CHI +3.5 / 47) SNF
Week 4 Los Angeles Rams (CHI -1.5 / 47)
Week 5 Carolina Panthers (CHI -5 / 42)
Week 6 Jacksonville Jaguars (CHI +1 / 47) London
Week 10 New England Patriots (CHI -5.5 / 43)
Week 14 at San Francisco 49ers (CHI +5.5 / 47.5)
Week 17 at Seattle Seahawks (CHI -3.5 / 47.5) Thurs
Bye: Week 7
Home: Detroit, Green Bay, Minnesota, Jacksonville, LA Rams, Seattle, Tennessee, Carolina, New England
Away: Detroit, Green Bay, Minnesota, Arizona, Houston, Indianapolis, San Francisco, Washington
Key Player Props
QB Caleb Williams - O/U 3,550.5 Pass Yards / 23.5 Pass TD's / 12.5 INT's
RB D'Andrew Swift - O/U 675.5 Rush Yards / 5.5 Rush TD's / 225.5 Rec Yds
WR DJ Moore - O/U 950.5 Rec Yards / 73.5 Receptions / 6.5 Rec TD's
WR Rome Udunze 675 Rec Yards / 57.5 Receptions / 4.5 Rec TD's.
WR Keenan Allen - O/U 775.5 Rec Yards
DE Montez Sweat O/U 8.5 Sacks / LB T.J. Edwards 150 Tackles & Assists
Stats and Notes - The Bears are one of the public plays for a big rise with an influx of top offensive talent through the draft, additional experienced personnel and a thriving and improving defense. That includes No. 1 overall pick QB Caleb Williams, who follows Bears QB's making a start the last two years Justin Fields, Tyson Bagent, Nathan Peterman, Trevor Siemian and P.J. Walker. Geez. (check back for more updates)
Betting: The Bears sopen the season at home against the Tennessee Titans. First round No. 1 pick QB Caleb Williams makes his debut, but since 1983 NFL QB's selected No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft are 3-20-1 SU in their first career start.
Check back for more updates, ATS and information you can bet on.
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