Vikings vs. Panthers Total Pick
Will Sunday’s pivotal NFC matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and Carolina Panthers turn into a defensive struggle at 1:00 p.m. ET?
Game Info
Matchup: Vikings (10-2) at Panthers (8-4)
TV: FOX, 1:00 p.m. ET
Line: Vikings -2.5
ODDS: According to oddsmakers from online sports book Bovada.lv, the over/under currently sits at 40.5 points after hitting the board at 42. The Panthers, meanwhile, are now 2.5-point home underdogs versus the Vikings, who opened as a 1-point dog before the game jumped the fence.
PUBLIC BETTING: As of this writing, 62% of the tickets are on the Vikings to cover the spread on Sunday and 72% of the money is on Minnesota, too.
INJURY REPORT: Despite Sam Bradford and Dalvin Cook being out for the year, the Vikings are relatively healthy. Only Mike Remmers (Concussion) is on the injury report. The offensive tackle is questionable for Sunday.
For the Panthers, tight end Greg Olsen (foot) is probable, as are center Ryan Kalil (neck), receiver Devin Funchess (shoulder), and running back Jonathan Stewart (foot). Charles Johnson is suspended.
OUR PREDICTION: In the last seven meetings between these two teams, the under is 5-2. The under is also 9-1 in the Vikings’ last 10 road games versus a team with a winning home record, is 20-6 in their last 26 opponents against an opponent with a winning record, and is 5-2 in their last seven conference games. In Minnesota’s last 16 games coming off a win, the under is 11-5.
On the other side, the under is 5-1 in the Panthers’ last six games coming off a loss, is 11-4-1 in their last 16 games played on grass, and is 5-2 in their last seven games coming off an ATS loss.
The Vikings held the Rams and Falcons to under 10 points apiece. Minnesota owns the best defense in the league and while Carolina has shown cracks in recent weeks, the Panthers also boast one of the better defensive units in the NFL. Just like the game last week in Atlanta between the Vikings and Falcons, this one figures to be a defensive struggle.
NFL WEEK 14 OVER/UNDER PREDICTION: VIKINGS/PANTHERS UNDER 40.5