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| Carolina Panthers | Minnesota Vikings |
| 1-3 | October 13, 2013, 01:00 | The Metrodome | 1-3 |
The Minnesota Vikings picked up a much-needed victory- their first of the season, in fact - two weeks ago over the Steelers in London, then had last week off. They also just added a troubled but talented quarterback to their roster. Can the Vikes, in their quest to make it back to the playoffs, make it two in a row when they host the 1-4 Carolina Panthers Sunday at the Metrodome (1 pm ET, Fox)?
Minnesota just signed former Buccaneer Josh Freeman, but as of early this week they weren't quite sure who was going to start at QB Sunday.
Nonetheless, in the early betting the Vikes were favored by 2.5 points over the Panthers, who, coming off their bye week, just lost a stinker at Arizona last Sunday and sit in last place in the NFC South.
Backers of the Vikings have seen them go 1-3 and 2-2 ATS so far this season, while the Panthers are at 1-3 and 1-3 ATS. In totals betting, the Panthers are 1-3, while the Vikings are 4-0.
View Carolina Panthers vs Minnesota Vikings Odds and Stats.
Bettors looking to side with the Vikings in this one found them as -2-point favorites earlier in the week at Sportsbook, while the total was sitting at 44.
The game pits the Vikings, currently No. 19 in our OddsShark NFL Power Rankings, against the Panthers, who rate No. 5 in the latest survey. Meanwhile, math and handicapping models run on this game predict a 25-20 victory for the Panthers.
Last time out for Carolina, they were a 22-6 loser as they battled the Cardinals on the road. The Panthers failed to cover in the match as a 3-point favorite, while 28 combined points moved the game UNDER for totals bettors. Cam Newton handled the Cardinals defense in his team's most recent action, throwing for 308 yards and 0 scores, but Carolina still lost to Arizona 22-6. Adrian Peterson went over the 100-yard mark (140) in his team's latest effort as Minnesota defeated Pittsburgh by a score of 34-27 on Sunday.
How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up Minnesota's No. 5-ranked offense (28.75 PPG) against a Panthers defense that ranks No. 3 at 14.5 PPG. The Vikings passing attack has averaged 223.75 yards per game, more than the Panthers give up through the air (209.25 YPG on average).
Defensively, the Panthers feature the league's No. 20-rated road run defense, allowing 119.5 yards per game. Minnesota, meanwhile, ranks No. 8 in rushing offense at home.
A few Panthers at Vikings trends to consider:
Carolina is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Carolina is 2-9 SU in its last 11 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Carolina's last 6 games
Carolina is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games on the road
Minnesota is 2-10 SU in its last 12 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Minnesota's last 7 games
Minnesota is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Minnesota is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
Next up:
Carolina at St. Louis, Sunday, October 20th
Minnesota at New York, Monday, October 21st
