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Carrie Stroup here with your TNF betting odds for the Vikings vs. Cardinals game Arizona -7.5, Total: 45.5.
MINESOTA VIKINGS (8-4) at ARIZONA CARDINALS (10-2)
Sportsbook.ag Line: Arizona -7.5, Total: 45.5
Arizona will be going for its seventh straight victory when the team hosts Minnesota on Thursday night.
The Vikings are coming off of an embarrassing 38-7 loss at home against the Seahawks and the team has now lost two of its past three games, with both being at home. The Cardinals, meanwhile, demolished the Rams 27-3 as 3.5-point road favorites. Arizona has won five straight games SU and three of the past five games ATS.
These teams have met just 13 times since 1992 and the Vikings are 10-3 SU and 8-5 ATS in the series. They have not played one another since Oct. 21, 2012, when the Vikings beat the Cardinals 21-14 as 6.5-point home favorites.
One thing favoring Minnesota in this game is the fact that the team is 10-0 ATS versus teams averaging 260 or more passing yard per game after eight or more games over the past three seasons. Arizona, however, is 15-6 ATS versus conference opponents over the past two seasons.
The Vikings are an old school football team that is winning games with defense and a potent rushing game. Minnesota is allowing just 19.3 PPG (t-4th in NFL) and is rushing for 136.8 YPG (5th in NFL). Adrian Peterson is the reason for the Vikings’ daunted rushing attack, racking up 1,182 yards with eight touchdowns on the ground this season. He did rush for just 18 yards on eight carries in a loss to the Seahawks last week. Peterson was not happy with the amount of carries he received, so it is very likely that the Vikings pound away against the Cardinals on Thursday.
One guy who must be better in Thursday’s game is Teddy Bridgewater. He has thrown for just 2,398 yards with eight touchdowns and eight interceptions on the season and had just 118 yards with no touchdowns and one pick against the Seahawks a week ago. The team fell behind early and needed him to throw the ball more effectively and that was not the case. The Vikings cannot keep playing at a high level without some more competent quarterbacking.
The Cardinals have been one of the most dominant teams in the NFL on both sides of the ball, putting up 31.8 PPG (1st in NFL) and allowing just 19.3 PPG (t-4th in NFL). The guy that is in charge of operating the NFL’s best offense is Carson Palmer. He has put himself in the discussion for MVP this season, throwing for 3,693 yards with 29 touchdowns and just nine interceptions. He threw for 356 yards with two touchdowns and no picks in a win over the Rams last week and will be looking to stay mistake-free against the Vikings on Thursday.
One guy that could help him is rookie David Johnson, who took over as the starting running back against the Rams. Johnson has needed to play more due to injuries, but he certainly delivered last Sunday. Johnson rushed for 99 yards on 22 carries in that game and also caught two passes for 21 yards and a touchdown. If he can continue to perform at a high level then this offense will not be missing Chris Johnson and Andre Ellington very much.
