NFL Week 13 Pick: Vikings vs. Cardinals ATS Prediction
NFL Week 13 – Arizona Cardinals at Minnesota Vikings
Where: US Bank Stadium (Minneapolis, MN)
When: Sunday December 1st at 1:00 PM EST
Watch: FOX
Betting Odds
Minnesota Vikings: -3.5
Over/Under: 44.5
The Arizona Cardinals will leave the desert and head to Minnesota for an NFC battle against the powerhouse Vikings this Sunday. This game will be a matchup of two teams currently in 2nd place in their respective divisions and there is a lot on the line as the season hits the final stretch. There will be no shortage of stardom on the field in this one and I have flagged this as one of the more interesting games in the Sunday slate. I have broken down how both squads stack up against one another and have identified a key advantage for one side. Keep reading below to see who I am backing and who will double your money post-Thanksgiving.
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Cardinals Betting Inisght
The Arizona Cardinals enter this matchup with a record of 6-5 and find themselves in 2nd place in the NFC West division. They dropped their most recent game to the Seattle Seahawks and now turn their focus to this game for a much needed victory to stay above .500. Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray has played well this year and has thrown for 2343 yards, 12 touchdowns and just 4 interceptions. His 3:1 touchdown to interception ratio is one of the better in his career and he will need to continue to elevate his play down the stretch to help the Cardinals make the playoffs and potentially win the division. Arizona has had some difficulty moving the ball through the air at times and is currently 23rd in the league while averaging 201.7 yards per game.
They have begun to rely much more heavily on their running game behind James Conner. Conner has accounted for 705 rushing yards on the year and has found the endzone 5 times. As a unit, the Cardinals are 6th in the league in rushing yards and have scored 22.2 points per game so far. The Arizona defense has been sporadic at times, but are still holding opponents to just 21.5 points per game. The Cardinals have had a very difficult time forcing opponents off the field and are second to last allowing 3rd down conversions at a 48.2% rate.
Vikings Betting Insight
The Minnesota Vikings have been one of the best stories in the 2024 campaign and find themselves at 9-2, trailing only the Detroit Lions in the NFC North. The Vikings saw some phenomenal play from Sam Darnold early in the year and even though he has regressed a bit, they find themselves on a 4 game winning streak. Darnold has thrown for 21 touchdowns on the year, but has recently shown some issues with ball control. He now has 10 total interceptions in 2024. The Vikings passing offense is filled with playmakers including Justin Jefferson, TJ Hockenson and Jordan Addison.
They have the ability to succeed on the outside or across the middle of the field and are dangerous when Darnold executes his reads appropriately. The Vikings have also succeeded in their rushing attack behind veteran Aaron Jones. Jones has been a forced to be reckoned with and has accounted for nearly 800 rushing yards and looks poised to easily cross the thousand yard mark by season’s end. In total, Minnesota averages 24.9 points per game. The Vikings defense has been their most reliable unit this year and has willed them to many of their victories. While they are ranked 28th in defending the pass, this is mostly due to adjusted game planning as opponents have typically trailed in games against the Vikings. Where the defense truly excels is in defending the run. They are the best group in the league in that facet and hold their opponents to just 74.7 rushing yards per game. This has also helped Minnesota attain the 5th best scoring defense, keeping their opposition to a mere 17.9 points per game.
My Pick: Minnesota Vikings -3.5 (-110)
There are a couple major factors that have influenced my decision to back the Vikings on the spread this weekend. First, as a home team, Minnesota is 4-1 on the year while the Cardinals are just 2-3 on the road. The Cardinals are also under .500 when playing NFC opponents. The second and most important basis for my pick is the Vikings defensive unit. This group is so much stronger than Arizona and will take away Arizona’s preferred method of moving the football downfield. If the Vikings can force the Cardinals to pass, they will need to rely on a young and inexperienced group. This is not a recipe for success.
