Week Three Betting – Carolina Panthers at Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings (0-2 SU & ATS) have been bitterly disappointed in each of their first two games of the 2008 season. On Sunday they will play host to the Carolina Panthers (2-0 SU, 1-0-1 ATS) in an NFL matchup that is set to get underway at 1 PM ET at the Metrodome (artificial turf) in Minneapolis.
Sunday, September 21
BetUS NFL Betting Odds: MINNESOTA -3.5, Total 37
NOTABLE STAT: Panthers had 216 total yards against Chicago last week
KEY NFL FOOTBALL BETTING TREND: Panthers are 4-0-1 ATS in last five. Vikings are 0-5 ATS in last five
In the BetUS NFL football betting odds, the Vikings are listed as a 3.5-point favorite, with a posted total of 37 points.
Here are some NFL betting trends as they relate to this matchup (reflecting numbers going into the 2008 season):
* CAR is 4-0-1 ATS in its last five games
* CAR has won four of its last five games SU
* CAR has played ten of its last 15 games UNDER the total
* CAR has won and covered eight of its last 11 road games
* CAR has played four of its last five road games OVER the total
* MINN has lost its last four games SU
* MINN has lost its last five games ATS
* MINN has played four of its last six games UNDER the total
* MINN has covered four of its last 14 home games
* MINN has won four of its last six home games SU
* MINN has played six of its last eight home games OVER the total
Also…
* Five of the last seven meetings have gone UNDER the total
* MINN has won four of the last six meetings SU as the home team
* Five of the last six meetings in Minneapolis have gone UNDER the total
Minnesota has gotten 263 rushing yards out of Adrian Peterson, and that is certainly good news. But support not coming from others in the backfield, namely Chester Taylor (37 yards on nine carries) and Tarvaris Jackson is not providing the element of balance the coaching staff hoped he might. Jackson is hitting just 51% of his passes for 5.2 yards a throw, and is doing more than his share of dinking and dunking., There just doesn’t seem to be a concept of developing the passing game in Minneapolis, even though they supposedly upgraded the position with Bernard Berrian.
Whether the Vikings can rebound after snatching defeat from the jaws of victory after last week’s flop against the Colts (ahead 15-0, they lost 18-15) also remains to be seen. With Carolina coming to town, there is a little concern about Minnesota’s defensive line and how it will perform. The Panthers have gotten some genuine balance out of their running backs (130 yards from Jonathan Stewart, 117 by D’Angelo Williams) and the Vikings are giving up 5.7 yards an attempt, more than two and a half yards more than last season.
And with Steve Smith coming back to the Carolina lineup after a two-game suspension, there is an opportunity for Jake Delhomme to exploit a weak Minnesota secondary, especially if the offensive line can neutralize sack master Jared Allen. Delhomme had only 128 yards passing last week, but the big difference between him and Jackson at this point is that Delhomme can make the plays that win games, while Jackson doesn’t really now the way yet. That will continue to plague Minnesota.
Under the circumstances, we’ll grab any points available with the Panthers, who are 13-6-1 ATS in their last 20 as a road dog and, in this case, the 3.5-point underdog in the BetUS NFL football betting odds.
JAY’S PLAY: CAROLINA +3.5 ***
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