The Minnesota Vikings sent a strong message by going on the road and knocking off an NFC South power last time out. Now, can they do it again? Minnesota is in the running for the top seed in the conference despite losing starting quarterback Sam Bradford early in the year. The Vikings hope Case Keenum can lead them to another road victory in Week 14 when they face off against the Carolina Panthers.
Minnesota proved a lot by knocking off the defending NFC champion Atlanta Falcons last week and will be favored to beat the Panthers as well. It won’t be easy, as Carolina has an impressive defense and is playing at home. The Vikings continue to roll against elite competition as their defense is proving to be an elite unit.
Watch this regular season Week 14 matchup live on Sunday, December 10, 2017, at 1 p.m. ET at Bank of America Stadium.
Opening NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Minnesota Vikings -3
Carolina Panthers +3
Over/Under 41
Odds Analysis
Minnesota is a field goal favorite on the road and is still getting more than 70 percent of the action in this one, as the betting public is clearly buying in. The scoring total is a little lower than normal because both defenses are strong. The “under” is the more popular choice, with about 75 percent of the action forecasting a game that is low on scoring.
Injury Report
Mike Remmers —The Vikings right tackle missed his fourth straight game with a lower back injury last weekend. Remmers missed the first three games due to a concussion then sustained a back injury in practice which sidelined him on Sunday. He’s listed as questionable heading into this weekend’s game against the Panthers.
Greg Olsen — The Panthers tight end has only played sparingly since returning from injured reserve two weeks ago. He had one catch against the Jets in Week 12 before being sidelined for the second half and missed last week as well. It will be a tough blow if he can’t play as Olsen is one of the best tight ends in the NFL and a key weapon on offense for Carolina.
Ryan Kalil —The Panthers center is still dealing with a nagging neck injury and missed last week’s game against Saints. The Pro Bowler has missed nine games with this season due to the ongoing injury but told reporters he is still hopeful he will return this season.
Key Stat
52.3. That’s the percentage chance the Panthers are given to win this game by ESPN’s Football Power Index, an analytics-based model that pegs each game. That obviously doesn’t jibe with the spread, and that is something to keep in mind.
For those who believe in the prediction models, this is a great chance to choose a Carolina team that isn’t getting the respect it deserves in this game. The Vikings have been impressive, but if Keenum regresses in this one against an elite defense, it is easy to see Carolina’s path to victory.
The moneyline is going to pay off nicely if the Panthers live up to the computer projections and manage to win this matchup.
Free ATS Pick
There is a split in thinking, but the computer models are correct. Don’t overreact to the recent play of the Vikings. They are a good team, but they aren’t truly elite. Take Carolina to win this game at home as the Panthers have a solid team and are fighting for their playoff lives.
Minnesota is going to win the NFC North and will be among the top seeds in the NFC, but the Eagles are the best team in the conference. The Vikings will fall down a peg and the Panthers will ascend after this one is over.
The “under” is the call as the Vikings are going to have trouble getting going in this one.
NFL Odds: Panthers 23, Vikings 13
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