Week 6 of the NFL season is fast approaching. The Minnesota Vikings will hit the road to face off against The Carolina Panthers on Sunday afternoon. It's time to continue our NFL odds series and make a Vikings-Panthers prediction and pick.
This is a classic battle of two teams who are right in the middle of the pack. Both teams have shown flashes of potential. But neither team has been consistent enough to top the league rankings. The Vikings are 2-3 heading into Week 6 and are looking to take a step towards the elusive winning record. They have been in some close games that haven't gone their way and will look for redemption in Carolina. The Panthers have been inconsistent this season. Sporting a 3-2 record, they have truly shown that they are a competitive football team. After a disappointing loss to the Eagles in Week 5, Carolina is looking to pick things up again. This game promises to be a good one.
Here's how the bookmakers have set the Vikings-Panthers odds for Sunday’s matchup.
NFL Odds: Vikings-Panthers Odds
Minnesota Vikings -2.5 (-112)
Carolina Panthers +2.5 (-108)
Over 45.5 (-112)
Under 45.5 (-108)
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Why the Vikings Could Win
Minnesota is 2-3 heading into this matchup but don't let their record deceive you. They are an underrated team that has had some unfortunate luck. They haven't lost by more than one possession all season. They have been competitive from the beginning of game to the end. They nearly beat the undefeated Cardinals, losing by 1 against a team that many say is the best in the league. This Vikings team is good.
Leading Minnesota is the consistent veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins. Cousins is quietly having a great 2021. Through 5 games he has thrown for just shy of 1400 yards, 10 touchdowns, and only 2 interceptions. He consistently puts his team in position to win football games. His last two performances have been somewhat underwhelming, but expect Cousins to come out firing to try and pick apart the Panthers.
Minnesota will need to establish a solid ground game in order to open up their offense. Dalvin Cook has been struggling through injuries this season but is a full go for Sunday. When Cook plays he dominates games. This is a huge addition for the Vikings.
Even if Dalvin Cook is limited the Vikings have a very solid alternative that they have and will continue to lean on in his stead. Alexander Mattison has been a more than serviceable replacement for Cook. When Cook is out Mattison steps up and takes care of business. Last week he was ran the ball 25 times for 113 yards and notched 7 receptions for 40 yards. Regardless of injuries, the Vikings backfield is in good hands will help get the offense going in a very winnable game for Minnesota.
Why the Vikings Could Win
The Panthers have been having a very interesting 2021 season. They have a winning record of 3-2 and have shown that they can be a very competitive football team. The key to victory for Carolina is consistency. They started off the season 3-0 but have since lost their last 2 games. They will look to break this momentum and bounce back at home against a beatable Vikings team.
The anchor of this Panthers team has been the defense. Carolina has allowed only 255 yards of offense per game to opposing teams. That is second best in the league and extremely impressive through 5 weeks of regular season play. The first time this defense showed weakness was in Week 4 against the Cowboys. The Panthers coaching was making very poor decisions and schemed for Dallas completely wrong. Carolina's defense has the personnel and talent to continue dominating opposing offenses. If the defensive coaches plan for Minnesota correctly, the Panthers defense could easily set the pace for this game.
On the offensive end, Sam Darnold has been finally developing into the quarterback that people knew he could be. He is having a very solid season. His last two games have been very tough, but he will look to bounce back against Minnesota. Lining up next to him could potentially be Christian McCaffrey. The star running back is questionable heading into this matchup and will be a huge factor in the game if he plays. If McCaffrey plays and Darnold can keep his composure, then things will certainly be looking good for the Panthers.
Final Vikings-Panthers Prediction & Pick
This game is going to be a close one. Both teams are evenly matched and it will be a classic gritty football game. If Darnold can regroup himself for this matchup and the defense can do its thing, then the Panthers will very likely win this game. If Minnesota can establish a run game against the tough Carolina front, then they could put themselves in a very good position. It's definitely close but you should pick the Panthers. They're +2.5 underdogs and will definitely be in this game, betting on the Carolina defense is a good bet.
FINAL VIKINGS-PANTHERS PICK: Carolina Panthers +2.5 (-108)
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