Monday Night Football: Bears vs Vikings

It’s their party and they’ll cry if they want to.

The Vikings never thought they’d be celebrating the franchise’s 50th anniversary in an outdoor home game with a rookie quarterback at the helm. But, as the NFL season has dealt the Vikings bad hand after bad hand, those best-laid plans have gone to waste.

Minnesota will host the Bears at TCF Bank Stadium for Monday Night Football in Week 15, following the collapse of the Metrodome roof last week. Crews have been working all week trying to prepare the University of Minnesota venue for the NFL crowds as well as remove the piles of snow covering the Twin Cities.

Oddsmakers at BetUS Sportsbook have set the Vikings as 9-point underdogs in their home away from home, while posting the total at just 33 points.

Part of that low number has to do with the injuries to Minnesota quarterbacks Brett Favre and Tarvaris Jackson, which leaves rookie Joe Webb as Week 15’s starter. And oddsmakers also took into consideration that the Vikings’ best option, running back Adrian Peterson, will be less than 100 percent after injuring his knee versus the New York Giants last week. A hobbled Peterson, who is questionable for Monday, will go up against the second-best run defense in the league.

However, the biggest factor keeping the total down is Old Man Winter, who is planning on crashing the Vikings’ party on Monday night. The forecast is calling for snow, wind, and game-time temperatures far below freezing. Stadium hands are worried the cold weather will turn the field into a skating rink, since TCF Bank Stadium lacks the heating coils under the field that most outdoor NFL venues have.

On top of all that, the concession stands aren’t allowed to serve alcohol to the frozen fans because it violates NCAA regulations. Some party.

While both teams must deal with the nasty conditions and sober fans, the Bears at least will have their top weapons on the field and plenty of experience with the winter weather. They’re fresh off a blizzard battle with the Patriots, which they lost 36-7, and welcome the cold and snow to Soldier Field back in the Windy City.

Monday night won’t be the Party of the Year the Vikings brass had hoped for, especially when the Bears walk into Minny and pull a few party fouls on national TV.

Pick: Bears -9 at BetUS Sportsbook