The Chargers are trying to chase down a playoff berth while the Vikings don’t look like they want to make the playoffs, heading into this inter-conference battle slated for Sunday afternoon in SoCal. Both these teams just played out on the East Coast last week; Los Angeles won at Phil-adelphia while Minnesota lost at Baltimore. Now they meet out on the Other Coast.
The Chargers are only favored by the standard home-field advantage for this game, which is a bit puzzling to us. Who do we like here for our free NFL betting pick?
NFL Betting Lines
The Week 10 NFL betting odds opened the Chargers at -2.5 for this one, with an over/under of right around 53. Early betting action then bumped that spread to -3 and that total to 53.5.
Vikings-Chargers NFL Betting Preview
Minnesota is 3-5 on the season after blowing a game in Baltimore last week, losing 34-31 in over-time. The Vikings trailed 3-0 early but rallied to lead 17-10 at the half. Minnesota then returned the opening kick-off of the second half 98 yards for a touchdown to go up 14 but gave up a 21-0 Ravens run to fall behind 31-24. Minnesota then tied the game with a touchdown with a minute left but lost on a Baltimore field goal with 16 seconds left in the OT.
The Vikings got out-gained by the Ravens 500-318, out-rushed 247-131, lost time of possession by a 46:24 split, and allowed Baltimore to convert 3/3 on 4th downs, which is basically what cost them the game.
Two weeks ago, Minnesota lost to Dallas, which was playing without QB Dak Prescott, 20-16 on a Cowboys touchdown with 50 seconds left.
The Vikings are two games under .500 in the W-L columns, but they’re actually +2 on the points differential because their five losses have come by a total of 18 points.
At 3-5, Minnesota trails first-place Green Bay by 3.5 games in the NFC North, but it’s also only one game behind 4-4 Atlanta in the battle for the seventh and final NFC playoff spot.
Los Angeles, meanwhile, is 5-3 on the season after winning at Philadelphia last week 27-24. The Chargers led 7-0 early but trailed 10-7 at the half. The lead then changed hands three times over the first 20 minutes of the second half before Los Angeles won it with a field goal with two sec-onds left.
The Chargers out-gained the Eagles 445-331, out-rushed Philly 176-89 but won the time of pos-session by a 34:26 split.
Atanta at Dallas Point Spread Pick
Los Angeles has now out-gained only three of its last seven opponents and out-rushed just two of its previous seven foes.
Two games ago, the Chargers lost at “home” to New England 27-24, and three games ago, they got blitzed at Baltimore 34-6.
At 5-3 overall, Los Angeles leads the tight AFC West by a tie-breaker over 5-3 Las Vegas. The Chargers also own the No. 3 spot in the AFC playoff standings, but that race is totally up for grabs, considering just two games separate first place from 11th place.
These teams met most recently two seasons ago, a 39-10 Vikings victory in Minneapolis. Cousins quarterbacked the Vikes that day against Rivers, who threw three interceptions for the Bolts.
- Get more details: Minnesota at LA Chargers 11/14/21 Match-up Stats
NFL Betting Trends
Home teams are just 64-70 SU, 56-77 ATS in the NFL this season.
Favorites are 81-56 SU, 58-78 ATS in the NFL this season.
Totals Report
Totals are split 4-4 in Vikings games this season, which are averaging 48 total points.
The Under is 5-3 in Chargers games this season, which are averaging 50 points.
The Under is 61-74 in the NFL this season.
