Minnesota Vikings vs. Carolina Panthers Predictions, Odds, Picks and NFL Week 3 Betting Preview – September 25, 2016

Minnesota Vikings vs. Carolina Panthers Preview

Where: Bank of America Stadium – Charlotte, North Carolina

When: Sunday, September 25, 1:00 PM ET

Line: Minnesota Vikings (+7) at Carolina Panthers (-7); total 42.0 – view all NFL lines

TV Broadcast: FOX

Writer’s Pick: Minnesota Vikings (+7)

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Betting on the Minnesota Vikings (+7)

The Vikings are 2-0 to start the season, and they’ve done it more or less without Adrian Peterson’s help. After his 31-yard no-show in Week 1 against Tennessee, Peterson had just 19 yards on 12 carries against Green Bay before leaving the game with a knee injury. Sam Bradford and the Vikings defense didn’t seem to miss him, though, as they recorded a big 17-14 win against their fierce division rivals.

Peterson still hasn’t been completely ruled out of Sunday’s game against Carolina despite a torn right meniscus, but if the Vikings line continues to run block as poorly as they have for the past two weeks, his absence won’t figure to make a difference one way or the other.

Even without Peterson, the Vikings should fancy their chances of competing with the defending NFC champion Panthers, especially after Bradford’s very impressive debut. The veteran QB, whom the Vikings traded for just a couple weeks ago, completed 22-of-31 passes for 286 yards with two touchdowns.

Bradford immediately struck a rapport with wideout Stefon Diggs, who torched the Packers secondary for 182 yards on nine catches with a touchdown. Bradford and his sudden inclination to throw deep is a very welcome development for the Vikes ahead of their visit to Carolina. They now have a deep threat with Diggs who is capable of exploiting a questionable Panthers secondary.

Meanwhile, the Vikings defense continues to make plays. That unit, which forced three turnovers in Week 1 and harassed Aaron Rodgers and the Packers into three more in Week 2, seemingly has the the look of a Super Bowl-caliber defense. Speaking of Super Bowls, the Broncos have shown (twice) that the Panthers O-line can be shaken, and the Vikings have just the pass rush that can similarly disrupt Cam Newton.

Betting on the Carolina Panthers (-7)

The Carolina Panthers did exactly what was expected of them in Week 2. They smashed the San Francisco 49ers, 46-27, in their home opener on Sunday, and easily covered the 13.5-point spread. They won pretty comfortably despite starting running back Jonathan Stewart playing limited snaps as well as the fact that they committed four turnovers.

Winning big at home is nothing new for the Panthers. They’ve now extended their current home winning streak – regular season and playoffs – to 14 games. They have also gone 7-0 ATS in their last seven, with their offense averaging an eye-popping 40 points per game during those seven games.

Cam Newton got over his rough Week 1 by going for 353 yards with four touchdowns. The Vikings will offer Cam a few more problems than the Niners, but the reigning MVP has more than enough weapons to cope. Kelvin Benjamin is making up for lost time with 199 yards and three touchdowns in his first two games. Greg Olsen and Devin Funchess are also catching touchdowns, and Ted Ginn Jr. continues to provide that home run deep threat.

No defense – not even the Seahawks or the Cardinals – has been able to slow the Panthers offense down at home. As good as Bradford looked in his debut, he could find it tough to produce enough points to keep pace with the Panthers, especially as he faces a very capable Carolina defense that’s given up just 17.7 points during its 14-game home win streak.

Writer’s Prediction

The Panthers extend their home win streak with a 24-17 victory, but the Vikings defense does enough to cover (+7).

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