Vikings vs. Panthers Point Spread: NFL Week 4 Odds, Prediction
The winless Vikings are in serious trouble following last week’s 28-24 home loss against the Chargers. Luckily, Week 4 will see Minnesota face an equally struggling team in the winless Carolina Panthers, who dropped a 37-27 decision in Seattle last week.
The Vikings opened as a 3.5-point favourite to win on the NFL odds.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
This is the first meeting between the Vikings and Panthers since a 2021 Week 6 matchup in Carolina. Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for 373 yards and three touchdowns against a Panthers pass defence that was ranked No. 1 in the NFL at the time. Sam Darnold, now a backup in San Francisco, answered for Carolina, finishing with 207 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception.
The Vikings haven’t been a good cover option this year, losing twice against the spread with one push. They’re now 1-7-1 ATS in their last nine games. The total has gone Under in two of three games for Minnesota this season.
The stats are just as ugly for Carolina as they are also 0-2-1 ATS this season, with the total going Under twice in that span. The Panthers are 2-9 straight up and 3-8 ATS in their last 11 October games.
Minnesota Vikings
Kirk Cousins has been arguably the best quarterback in the NFL through three weeks, but it hasn’t translated to wins for Minnesota. Cousins leads the league with 1,075 passing yards and he has a 9-2 touchdown to interception ratio. He put up 375 passing yards and three TDs against the Chargers last week, but a late interception cost the Vikings the game. Alexander Mattison rushed for 93 yards and Justin Jefferson finished with 149 receiving yards and a TD. Jefferson leads the NFL with 458 receiving yards on the year.
It’s been a frustrating season for Minnesota as they have lost all three games by one-score each. It’s a far cry from the Vikings team that set an NFL record last season by going 11-0 in one-score games. And the stats don’t back Minnesota up. Since 1990, only four teams have made the playoffs after starting the season 0-3: the Chargers (1992), Detroit (1995). Buffalo (1998) and Houston (2018).
Carolina Panthers
Carolina’s offence looked better last week with Andy Dalton under centre, but they still managed to blow a halftime lead and lose by double digit points. Dalton, who started in place of an injured Bryce Young, went 34-for-58 with 361 passing yards, two TDs and no interceptions. Young, this year’s first overall draft pick, is still listed as questionable because of an ankle injury, but he did return to practice this week. In two games, Young has completed 42 of 71 pass attempts for 299 yards, two TDs and two INTs.
While Young looks like he’s on track to return on Sunday, it’s not good news for the Panthers’ secondary. Safety Xavier Woods and cornerback Jaycee Horn are both expected to miss extended time with hamstring injuries. Woods was injured in last week’s loss in Seattle and Horn was hurt in the season opener.
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