Fans had hoped to be treated to a showdown between two of the best running backs in the game – but they’ll have to settle for a Teddy Bridgewater homecoming as the Carolina Panthers visit the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. The Panthers (4-7 SU, 6-5 ATS) have fallen out of the playoff picture but should be motivated against a Minnesota team (4-6 SU, 6-4 ATS) in must-win mode.
- Date/Time: November 29, 1 p.m. ET
- Stadium: U.S. Bank Stadium
- TV Coverage: Fox
- Sportsbook Odds: Vikings -3.5 | O/U 50.5 (Line History)
- Panthers vs Vikings Matchup Report
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
The Vikings opened things up as a 3.5-point favorite, but that line has climbed by a point in the hosts’ favor in most spots. The total of 50.5 has slipped 2 points.
Carolina News & Notes
The Panthers will once again have to do without all-world running back Christian McCaffrey, who is considered week to week with a shoulder injury that might very well keep him out for the rest of the season.
Backup Mike Davis has been serviceable in CMC’s absence, and he’s in a favorable spot DFS-wise with the Vikings allowing the 11th-most rushing yards per game.
This is also a significant game for Bridgewater, who will face the team that selected him in the first round of the 2014 draft. Bridgewater has been solid in his first full-time starting role since 2015, when he led the Vikings to an 11-5 record. He could be a DFS sleeper against a Minnesota pass defense allowing the seventh-most yards per game through the air.
Minnesota News & Notes
Perhaps the Vikings defense was riding high after three straight solid performances (all resulting in Minnesota victories) and felt like it could look past the lowly Dallas Cowboys in Week 11. Whatever the case, Minnesota made a series of defensive blunders in last week’s 31-28 loss to the Cowboys, further narrowing the team’s margin of error for reaching the NFC postseason.
Thankfully, the Vikings have plenty of things working on the offensive end – and it all starts with Dalvin Cook, who ranks second in the NFL in rushing yards (10 back of Derrick Henry) and has already reached the end zone 14 times. His DFS price will be the highest of any player in Week 12, but he’s facing another smash spot against a Panthers D that has allowed 14 rushing scores.
Betting Pick: Vikings -4.5 (-110)
Minnesota has played much better of late and should be able to capitalize on its superior offense to hold off whichever version of the Panthers shows up Sunday.
- The Panthers are 6-3 ATS in their last 9 games.
- The Vikings are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games.
- The UNDER is 6-3 in Carolina’s last 9 visits to Minnesota.
