After tying the Green Bay Packers in Week 2 and losing to the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams after that, the Minnesota Vikings got back on the winning track in Week 5 by beating the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles 23-21 on the road. The Vikings will look to win two in a row for the first time this season when they host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Sportsbooks opened the Vikes as 10.5-point home favorites with a total of 43.
- The Cardinals are 0-9 SU in their last nine games on the road vs the Vikings (avg. losing margin: 14.78).
- The Cardinals are 1-8 SU in their last nine games after a win.
- The Vikings are 12-2 SU and 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games at home vs teams with losing records.
Cardinals vs Vikings Game Center
Home cooking could be huge for Vikings
Quarterback Kirk Cousins has looked the part of a franchise quarterback so far, as the signal-caller completed 30 of 37 passes for 301 yards and a touchdown to finish with a passer rating of 109.6 in the Vikings’ win over the Eagles. Cousins became the first player in NFL history to record 30-plus completions in four consecutive contests. The 30-year-old ranks second in the NFL with 1,688 passing yards and has 11 touchdowns compared to two interceptions.
The Vikings have enjoyed plenty of success at home against Arizona, as Minny is a fantastic 9-0 SU in its past nine home games vs the Cardinals, with an average winning margin of 14.8 points. Overall, the Vikings are 12-2 SU and 10-4 ATS in their past 14 home games against teams with losing records. If you like the Vikings in this one, those trends should increase your confidence in them.
Rosen has proven to be a major upgrade over Bradford
The Cardinals looked like one of the worst teams in the NFL to start the season but have fared much better since rookie quarterback Josh Rosen took over as the starter in place of Sam Bradford. The No. 10 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft completed 10 of 25 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown in Arizona’s 28-18 triumph over the San Francisco 49ers last week.
The Cards haven’t been reliable when it comes to winning two games in a row, however, as Arizona is 1-8 SU in its last nine when coming off a win. The UNDER has been the hot bet in this series, evidenced by three of the last four meetings between the clubs going UNDER the total, with an average combined score of 44 points.
My pick: take the OVER
Minnesota’s usually rock-solid defense has sprung a leak this year, which has led to some high-scoring affairs. The Vikings’ issues on defense combined with their potent offense and Arizona’s suddenly capable offense under the guidance of Rosen has the makings of an OVER in my eyes.
