The Minnesota Vikings are looking like a Super Bowl contender. They can really hammer that point home if they can go on the road and beat the NFC’s Super Bowl participant from a season ago. In one of the premier matchups of Week 13, the Atlanta Falcons will host the Vikings in a game with all sorts of playoff implications.
The Vikings have a stranglehold on the NFC North but would love to claim one of the top two seeds in the conference to get a first-round playoff bye. Atlanta is currently in line for a playoff spot but is also in a tough battle with the Saints and Panthers in the NFC South.
Both of these teams would love to come away with a win but it will only be possible for one of them in a pivotal clash of conference heavyweight. The Falcons are at home and thus small favorites.
This contest in Week 13 of the regular season will go down Sunday, December 3, 2017, at 1 p.m. ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Opening NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Minnesota Vikings +3
Atlanta Falcons -3
Over/Under 47.5
Odds Analysis
The Vikings are playing really well currently and the bettors are all over them as more than 92 percent of the early action is on Minnesota to cover.
The scoring total seems pretty low for as well as the Falcons’ offense has been playing of late, in addition to the standout performances by Case Keenum for the Vikings. Minnesota does have an elite defense, and that’s why only about 60 percent of the early money is taking the “over.”
Injury Report
Desmond Trufant — The Falcons Pro Bowl cornerback left Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay after suffering a head injury and is being evaluated for a concussion. Trufant left the game just before halftime. He is a huge part of the Falcons secondary with two interceptions and 25 tackles this season.
Devonta Freeman —The Falcons running back is out with a concussion. He suffered the injury in a Week 10 win over the Cowboys. It’s his second concussion in four months and his third in the last three years. Freeman returned to practice last week but was limited.
Mike Remmers —The Vikings starting right tackle missed his third straight game last week against Detroit. The 28-year-old suffered a concussion against the Browns in Week 8 and has yet to return. Rashod Hill has been filling in during his absence.
Player To Watch
Keenum -- It’s been a phenomenal season for a quarterback who was expected to be a simple backup this season. However, Sam Bradford went down early in the year with a knee injury, which opened up the door for Keenum.
He has been magnificent, throwing for 2,476 yards with 14 touchdowns against only five interceptions on the season, turning it on moreso in the past four games.
Teddy Bridgewater has returned from a gruesome knee injury in 2016 but is currently serving as the backup because Keenum has been that good. The Falcons will likely get their share of points in this one, so it will be interesting to see how Keenum fares on the road with a loud crowd against a talented defense.
Free ATS Pick
The Vikings are the hotter team, but the Falcons are quietly putting it together. Atlanta is getting overlooked in this one. The spread is about right, but if money continues to pour in on Minnesota, it could decrease.
If it goes under a field goal, that’s the time to jump on it, because the Falcons will be able to cover. Atlanta wide receiver Julio Jones had an outrageous game last time out with more than 250 yards receiving and he should be able to come up with some big catches in this one to lead his team to the victory.
NFL Odds: Falcons 27, Vikings 23
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