Minnesota (9-2) at Atlanta (7-4)
When: Sunday, December 3rd 2017
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Time: 1:00 ET | TV: FOX
Opening Odds: Atlanta -2.5/47
Open an Account at Bovada Sportsbook Now! Sign up at Bovada.lv to get a $250 Signup Bonus to bet NFL Football odds and props!
The Minnesota Vikings have all but wrapped-up the NFC North title and will put their seven-game winning streak on the line in a tough road game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday afternoon. The Vikings will also have had 10-days rest after taking care of the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day. The Falcons are coming off a 34-20 home win against Tampa Bay and have won three in a row and four of five to stay within striking distance of the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers in the NFC South. The Falcons failed to score more than 17 points in each loss during a recent 1-4 stretch, but they have turned up the offense during the winning streak and are just one game behind New Orleans and Carolina, who will play each other later today. These teams last played two years ago with the Vikings coming away with a 20-10 road win thanks to a big day from Adrian Peterson. Falcons QB Matt Ryan threw two interceptions in that game, but couldn’t come through in the red zone.
Quarterback Case Keenum, who is really third on the Minnesota depth chart behind injured Sam Bradford and now-healthy Teddy Bridgewater, has been moving this team along consistently all season. Keenum was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Month for November and has thrown for 866 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions while posting a passer rating of 114.0 in guiding the Vikings to three wins in November. Wide receiver Adam Thielen has 22 catches for 378 yards and two TDs over that span to push him over 1,000 yards for the season while Latavius Murray leads a ground game and scored four times over the last three weeks. Minnesota ranks fifth in the league at yards allowed (290.4) and No. 2 versus the run (75.5). Defensive end Everson Griffen had two sacks on Thanksgiving to tie for the league lead with 12.
[ad id=’36391′]
Star wide receiver Julio Jones had just one touchdown in the first 10 games before breaking-out last week against Tampa Bay with 12 receptions for 253 yards and a pair of scores. The ground game, which is ranked 10th in the league (116.8), will see the return of Devonta Freeman, who missed most of the past three games with a concussion. Tevin Coleman held things together in his abscence by rushing for four touchdowns in that span, but the Falcons are much better when both are healthy. Ryan has completed at least 70% of his passes and posted a QB rating of least 104.8 during the current winning streak. While Atlanta’s defense is ninth in the league in sacks (30), it ranks 31st with only three interceptions and has allowed 51 points the last two weeks. The Falcons will host New Orleans on Thursday night.
This Minnesota team is not flashy, but they get the job done. The defense has been good for a few years, but they finally have the offense that can go far in the playoffs. Atlanta’s defense has just given-up way too many points lately for me to take them. I’ll take the points in this one.
Pick: Vikings +3
- Vikings are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Vikings are 4-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Vikings are 16-5 ATS in their last 21 games in December.
- Vikings are 22-7 ATS in their last 29 games following a straight up win.
- Vikings are 39-15 ATS in their last 54 games overall.
- Vikings are 38-15 ATS in their last 53 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Vikings are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Vikings are 36-17 ATS in their last 53 games following a ATS win.
- Vikings are 35-17 ATS in their last 52 vs. NFC.
- Vikings are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games on grass.
- Falcons are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games in December.
- Falcons are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. NFC.
- Falcons are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game.
- Falcons are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Falcons are 13-6 ATS in their last 19 games following a straight up win.
- Falcons are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Under is 8-1 in Vikings last 9 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Over is 4-1 in Vikings last 5 games overall.
- Over is 4-1 in Vikings last 5 games following a straight up win.
- Over is 4-1 in Vikings last 5 games following a ATS win.
- Under is 19-7 in Vikings last 26 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 5-2 in Vikings last 7 road games.
- Under is 17-7-1 in Vikings last 25 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Over is 3-0-1 in Falcons last 4 games in December.
- Under is 5-1 in Falcons last 6 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Over is 13-3 in Falcons last 16 home games.
- Under is 4-1 in Falcons last 5 games on grass.
- Over is 16-4-1 in Falcons last 21 vs. NFC.
- Over is 12-3-1 in Falcons last 16 games following a ATS win.
- Over is 12-3-1 in Falcons last 16 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in Falcons last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 7-2-1 in Falcons last 10 games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Over is 15-5-1 in Falcons last 21 games following a straight up win.
- Over is 11-4 in Falcons last 15 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Over is 21-8-1 in Falcons last 30 games overall.
- Over is 5-2 in Falcons last 7 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Underdog is 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 meetings.
- Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in Atlanta.
- Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.
- Vikings are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings.
