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Vikings at Panthers: Odds, trends and more

By John Buhler

Nov 30, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Matt Asiata (44) rushes against the Carolina Panthers for 3 yards in the fourth quarter at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings won 31-13. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Matt Asiata (44) rushes against the Carolina Panthers for 3 yards in the fourth quarter at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings won 31-13. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Carolina Panthers (1-1) host the Minnesota Vikings (2-0) on Sunday afternoon in Week 3. Here are the important betting odds and trends for this game.

In what should be one of the better games on the Week 3 slate in the NFL, the Carolina Panthers (1-1) will host the Minnesota Vikings (2-0) on Sunday afternoon in Charlotte. Kickoff from Bank of America Stadium is at 1:00 p.m. ET. FOX will be airing the telecast.

Carolina got its first win of 2016 by handling the San Francisco 49ers at home last week, 46-27. Minnesota managed to move to 2-0 on the year by beating the arch rival Green Bay Packers at home on Sunday Night Football, 17-14.

It was a costly victory for the Vikings, as star running back Adrian Peterson tore the meniscus in his right knee and will be out for an undetermined amount of time. This has affected the point spread substantially in this game.

According to OddsShark.com, the Panthers are a 7.5-point home favorite over the Vikings in their Week 3 matchup. The associated moneylines are Carolina -455, Minnesota +355. This game’s projected over/under comes in at 43 combined points.

Odds

Point Spread: Carolina -7.5
Moneylines: Carolina -455, Minnesota +355
Over/Under: 43

This game would be closer if Peterson was at full strength or even playing in this game. However, Carolina has the best home field advantage in football the last two plus seasons. Carolina has won 14 straight home games dating back to the 2014 regular season.

The Panthers would be a field goal favorite under normal circumstances, but will be giving the Vikings additional points on account of the Peterson injury.

Carolina and Minnesota have met 12 times before with the Vikings holding a 7-5 series lead. In the last 10 games in this series, both teams have won five games.

Here are a few trends to know about the Vikings before this game: 1.) Minnesota is 5-0 against the spread in its last five games. 2.) The Vikings are 5-1 straight up in their last six games. 3.) Minnesota is 5-0 against the spread on the road in its last five away games. 4.) The Vikings are 6-1 straight up in their last seven road games.

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Here are trends to know about the Panthers before Week 3: 1.) Carolina’s last home loss came to the Atlanta Falcons on November 26th, 2014, 19-17. 2.) The Panthers are 4-2 against the spread in their last six games. 3.) Carolina is 18-3 straight up in its last 21 games. 4. The Panthers have gone over in their last five games.

We know that the Vikings are good, but we don’t know if the 2016 Panthers are an elite team like they were last year. These are two great defenses in this game, so lean towards the under, especially with Peterson’s bum knee.

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Look for Carolina to win a close, low-scoring game at home, but the Vikings should be able to cover the lofty 7.5 point spread in defeat. It’ll be a big win for either team and conversely an understandable loss for whomever comes up short in this one.

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