NFL Week 16 Picks: Minnesota Vikings vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Minnesota Vikings vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday, 12/22/13, 1:00 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Cincinnati -7
Current Betting Line: Cincinnati -7.5
Opening Total: 47
Current Total: 47.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

Vikings Bills NFL Preview — The Minnesota Vikings have covered their last seven December games

Minnesota has alternated wins and losses over its last three games, as it comes off a 48-30 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles as 6.5-point home underdogs last Sunday, while going OVER the total for the fifth time in six contests. The Vikings received a huge performance by quarterback Matt Cassel last time out, as he threw for 382 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, which was a bit surprising due to running back Adrian Peterson sitting out with a foot injury. Minnesota is 4-0-1 ATS as a road underdog of 7.5 to 10 points the last two-plus seasons.

The Vikings will have to overcome the fact that the home team has won 10 of the last 11 match-ups in this non-conference series, which can’t be ignored when making your NFL betting predictions. Minnesota is currently tied for fourth in the league with a 6-2 record in December since the start of the 2012 campaign. Peterson combined for 137 total yards and two rushing touchdowns in his lone career game against the Bengals.

Cincinnati had its three-game winning streak snapped in a 30-20 setback to the Pittsburgh Steelers as 2.5-point road favorites in Week 15, while going OVER the betting total for the third time in four contests. The Bengals are one game ahead of defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore for the AFC North division crown, which is important to consider when looking over the NFL betting lines. “The only thing on our minds can be beating Minnesota,” stated Bengals offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth this week. Cincinnati is 6-0 SUATS at home during the 2013 campaign.

The Bengals are 14-6-1 in their last 21 games against NFC opponents at Paul Brown Stadium, with 20 of those being played under the direction of head coach Marvin Lewis. Cincinnati ranks 11th in the league in averaging 25.3 points per game, while sitting behind just five teams in surrendering 19.6 points a contest. Offensively, the team is averaging 33.2 points at home, while putting up just 19.4 points on the road.