Bettors backing Vikings with Sam Bradford expected to play vs. Bears

The Vikings opened as 2½-point favorites over the Bears in their “Monday Night Football” matchup at Soldier Field. But that number climbed to 3½ on Sunday night at Station Casinos with the news that Minnesota quarterback Sam Bradford is expected to play after missing the past three games with a knee injury.

“It’s a combination of knowing that Bradford is definitely in and the market backing that side,” said Sunset Station sports book director Chuck Esposito, a Chicago native. “We’re Bears fans tonight and I’m always a Bears fan. It’s a win win. I can definitely root for the blue and orange.”

The line had moved to Vikings (2-2) by 4 at a couple Las Vegas sports books on Monday afternoon and the total is between 40½ and 41.

Chicago (1-3) has played well at home this season, beating the Steelers after almost defeating the Falcons in the season opener at Soldier Field.

Rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky will make his regular-season debut for the Bears, replacing Mike Glennon, who had eight turnovers in four games.

“Trubisky is a definite upgrade. He played well in the preseason, has a good offensive line and two good running backs. His wide receiver core is not great,” Esposito said. “The market is backing the Vikings because he’s a rookie quarterback who only made 13 starts in college and is now being thrown in against one of the top defenses in the league on national TV against a division rival.”

Minnesota, which lost rookie running back Dalvin Cook to a season-ending torn ACL, has alternated wins and losses this season. The Vikings have lost eight of their last nine games in Chicago and are 1-7 straight up and against the spread in their last eight games on Monday night. The home team is on a 9-1 ATS run in the series and the Bears are 9-5 ATS in their last 14 on Monday night.

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Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com. Follow @tdewey33 on Twitter.