Vikings have tons of trends on their side
Mike Zimmer is destroying the sport books in Las Vegas, going 29-9 against the spread (ATS) since becoming the Minnesota Vikings head coach, including 21-4 ATS in games outside the NFC North.
The undefeated Vikings are back in action Sunday after a bye last weekend, and that’s good news, according to this week’s trends report.
THURSDAY
Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers
The Bears are 3-16 ATS vs. opponents that lost their previous game straight up (SU) as a favorite. ... NFL home teams following three consecutive home games (re: Packers) are 6-2 SU and ATS when hosting a division opponent.
Key stat: Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers is 16-4 SU and ATS in division games following an SU loss.
Who wins: Packers, 31-21
SUNDAY
New York Giants at Los Angeles Rams
The Giants are 6-0 SU and ATS in the last seven games in this series. …. The Rams are 15-30 SU and 13-31-1 ATS vs. NFC East opponents since 1994.
Key stat: Los Angeles coach Jeff Fisher is 10-4 SU and ATS as an underdog in games vs. NFC East opponents
Giants, 28-27
Undefeated teams are 20-6 ATS as a favorite following a bye week. ... This marks the first of three consecutive games the Eagles will play against teams coming off a bye week.
Key stat: Philadelphia is 3-9 SU and 1-10-1 ATS in its last 12 home games vs. .666 or greater opponents. Vikings, 24-17
The Saints are 7-3 SU and ATS in their last 10 games vs. AFC West opponents. ... Kansas City coach Andy Reid is 15-8 SU and ATS in his career against the NFC South, including 7-1 SU and ATS the last eight games.
Key stat: Kansas City is 11-1 ATS in its third home game of the season.
Who wins: Chiefs, 31-28 Washington Redskins at Detroit Lions
The Redskins have won 16 of the last 21 games in this series. ... The Lions are playing their third consecutive home game, but they are 1-4 SU and 0-5 ATS in this situation since 2011.
Key stat: Washington is 8-1 ATS in the first of back-to-back away games.
Who wins: Redskins, 27-20 Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals
A winless season could be in the offing for the Browns, as eight of their final nine opponents this season were projected to win eight or more games by Las Vegas sports books. ... The Bengals are 4-0 SU and 3-0-1 ATS in division home openers in the last four years.
Key stat: Cincinnati is 0-10 ATS as a division favorite under coach Marvin Lewis when coming off a loss in which it scored 20 or fewer points. Bengals, 28-21
The Bills are 10-2 ATS as division favorites of three or more points. ... The Dolphins are 1-5 SU and ATS in the last six games in this series.
Key stat: Buffalo coach Rex Ryan is 1-7 SU and ATS as a division favorite in games in which his team owns a winning record.
Bills, 24-23
Oakland is 7-0 ATS in its fourth away game of the season. ... The Jaguars are 3-9 SU and ATS following back-to-back SU wins.
Key stat: Oakland QB Derek Carr is 5-1 SU and 6-0 ATS as an underdog in his last six NFL away games.
Who wins: Raiders, 27-20 Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans
Colts QB Andrew Luck is 9-2 SU and 8-3 ATS away in division games. ... Tennessee coach Mike Mularkey is 3-15 SU and ATS in his last 18 home games.
Key stat: Indianapolis is 6-0 SU and 5-0-1 ATS in this series when coming off an away game.
Colts, 24-20
The Ravens are 9-1 SU and ATS in the last 10 games in this series. ... New York is 1-5 SU and ATS vs. .400 or greater AFC North opponents.
Key stat: The Jets are 0-6 SU and 1-5 ATS following a Monday night game.
Who wins: Ravens, 28-20
San Diego is 0-5 SU and ATS in its last five games against NFC South opponents. ... Atlanta is 0-4 SU and 0-3-1 ATS following games against the Seattle Seahawks since 2010.
Key stat: NFL teams are 1124-4 ATS as home favorites after facing Pete Carroll’s Seahawks.
Falcons, 28-27
The Buccaneers are 1-6 SU following a bye week in the past seven seasons. ... The 49ers have allowed season highs in yards to opponents in three of their last five games.
Key stat: The Bucs are 0-10 SU and 1-9 ATS in their last 10 games against NFC West opponents.
49ers, 24-21
New England is 8-2 SU and 7-2-1 ATS in its last 10 games against the Steelers ... The Steelers are 6-0 SU and 5-1 ATS in games following an SU loss as a favorite.
Key stat: Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin is 7-0 ATS as an underdog vs. an opponent off a double-digit ATS win.
Patriots, 28-27
Seattle is 9-14 SU and 10-13 ATS in its last 23 NFC West division games. ... Arizona is 4-8 SU and ATS in the last 12 games in this series.
Key stat: The Cardinals are 9-16 SU and ATS on Sunday nights since 1990, including 2-7 SU and 1-8 ATS in the last nine at home.
Who wins: Seahawks, 24-20
MONDAY
Houston Texans at Denver Broncos.
Houston is 1-7 ATS in its last eight Monday night games. … Denver is 1-6-1 ATS in its last eight Monday night games.
Key stat: Denver has held each of its last five opponents to season-low yardage.
Who wins: Broncos, 27-20
Lawrence publishes the weekly Playbook Football Newsletter and the Playbook Football Preview Guide magazine (Playbook.com). You can follow him on Twitter @MarcLawrence or on the Playbook Cube app.