The Tampa Bay Buccanneers will be looking for their sixth straight win over the Minnesota Vikings when they visit the Vikings this Thursday night at the Metrodome.
Tampa Bay is a perfect 5-0 SU and ATS in its last five games against the Vikings.
Minnesota is 4-0 SU and 2-1-1 ATS at home this season. Tampa Bay is winless in two road games but covered the spread in both losses.
View Tampa Bay vs Minnesota Odds and Stats.
Betting Line:
The Buccaneers opened as 5.5-point underdogs at sportsbooks such as Sportsbook, with the total listed at 41.5 over at Sportsbook earlier in the week. Watch for updates and follow Twitter for line moves and injury updates.
Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Vikings sit at No. 15 in the current NFL Power Rankings here at OddsShark, while the Buccaneers are at No. 18 on that chart. Math models have concluded that the Vikings will win this game 28-24.
How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up Minnesota's No. 14-ranked offense (23.9 PPG) against a Buccaneers defense that ranks No. 15 at 22.7 PPG. The Vikings passing attack has averaged 203.4 yards per game, less than the Buccaneers give up through the air (323 YPG on average).
In comparing defenses, the Buccaneers own the league's No. 3-rated front 7 in terms of stopping the run, allowing 66 yards per game when on the road. Minnesota, on the other hand, rates No. 7 this week in generating rushing yards at home.
Tampa Bay lost its last outing, a 35-28 result against the Saints on October 21. The Buccaneers failed to cover in that game as a 1.5-point underdog, while the 63 combined points took the game OVER the total. Tampa Bay comes off a game where it received a 3-TD performance from Josh Freeman in a losing cause against the Saints, a 35-28 final.
Minnesota won its last outing, a 21-14 result against the Cardinals on October 21. The Vikings earned a push in that game as a 7-point favorite, while the 35 combined points took the game UNDER the total. Adrian Peterson tore up the turf for 153 rushing yards in the latest Vikings game, a 21-14 win over the Cardinals at The Metrodome.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Trends:
When playing in October are 6-4
When playing on turf are 4-6
After outgaining opponent are 4-6
When playing outside the division are 1-9
Minnesota Vikings Trends:
When playing in October are 4-6
When playing on turf are 5-5
After being outgained are 3-7
When playing outside the division are 5-5
A few Buccaneers at Vikings trends to consider:
Tampa Bay is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Minnesota
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Tampa Bay's last 9 games when playing Minnesota
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Minnesota's last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Minnesota's last 5 games at home
Minnesota is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Minnesota is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
Next up:
Tampa Bay at Oakland, Sunday, November 4
Minnesota at Seattle, Sunday, November 4
