Patriots vs Vikings Head-to-Head: Betting Odds For Thanksgiving Night
Vikings Look To Rebound at Expense of Streaking Patriots
NFL Odds Favor Minnesota By Field Goal
The Minnesota Vikings left their backers feeling like they got punked this past Sunday. But the Vikes will have short memories as they get ready to welcome another defensive powerhouse in New England – ranked second in the NFL. The Patriots vs Vikings head-to-head odds favor the hosts by at least a field goal. But more notable is the total, set at 42, as it is the lowest for this Thanksgiving Day.
Game Information
New England Patriots (6-4) vs Minnesota Vikings (8-2)
Date, time (TV):
Location: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Patriots Look to Further Expose Vikings
The Patriots have a way of separating the pretenders from the contenders. On one hand, this team has lost to the likes of Miami and Baltimore but has beaten Pittsburgh and Detroit. Chicago is an aberration but what the Pats do well is in flattening teams with their intense pressure.
New England has allowed a measly 16.9 points per game. In fact, if we exclude the Bears game, the Pats have allowed a total of 38 points in its last four games. Minnesota gave up 40 in Sunday’s loss alone. The Patriots have one of the best pass rushes – second in pressure rate (28.5 percent) and sacks (36). The only team that does it better than New England is the one that just crushed Minnesota: Dallas!
So why then is the team not favored on the Patriots vs Vikings head-to-head odds? It behooves the offense, particularly the running game, to keep opponents neutralized. New England attempts the tenth-most rushing plays on average (28.5) but is just 26th in rushing yards per attempt (4.0). Rhamondre Stevenson has emerged as the team’s lead back and is on pace to break 1,000 rushing yards.
“Just in any situation, just being there for my teammates and picking up a third-and-16, that’s hard to do. Especially on a little check-down route like that.” Stevenson said in an interview with ClutchPoints following the team’s Week 11 win against the Jets.”Just having the willpower to get the first down and keep the offense on the field.”
Stevenson and his powerful running form a formidable one-two punch with Damien Harris. Even if the Pats’ offense is struggling as a whole (20th in points and 25th in yards), the pair’s ability to extend the Patriots’ time of possession works well with the defense. This bodes well for their NFL Week 12 lines if the tandem can keep it up.
Vikings Must Get Confidence Back
Now is not the time for the once-mighty Vikings to sulk following their most embarrassing defeat in the Kevin O’Connell era. However, the doubters can tell you they “saw that coming”. Minnesota, despite being 8-2, is only 4-5-1 against the spread (ATS). This means the Vikings are winning but nowhere near as significant as the NFL odds predict.
Seven of Minnesota’s wins have come by eight points or fewer. The team was also outgained in three of these games. But the Vikings can credit their defense and its ability to produce timely turnovers. The Vikings forced four out of Buffalo in Week 10’s thrilling win, which is one of five games where they produced multiple turnovers.
But against Dallas, everything fell apart for Minnesota. The defense allowed 458 yards while the offense managed just 183. It was the biggest “no show” in the team’s recent history.
“I don’t think we can get concerned with those things,” O’Connell said in regards to the “narratives” that will come out of their one-sided defeat. “I just know each and every week in this league is another opportunity to really prove who you are. As a football team, I don’t think we did that [Sunday]. I don’t think we gave ourselves a chance to compete. We’ve got a lot of things in a short week to try to get right.”
Statistically, Minnesota is also unflattering. Even removing the Dallas game, the Vikings are a middle-of-the-pack kind of team on both sides of the ball. Still, you can’t argue against their results hence the Patriots vs Vikings head-to-head odds.The loss can light a fire in Minnesota as they look to get back to form.
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