Playoff races kick into high gear across the NFL in Week 13, starting with the Minnesota Vikings looking to halt a 1-5 swoon when they host the red-hot Dallas Cowboys on Thursday Night Football as 3.5-point underdogs at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
Minnesota is coming off a disappointing 16-12 loss in Detroit as 2-point underdogs on Thanksgiving Day, putting a dent in their playoff chances heading into Thursday night’s Cowboys vs. Vikings betting matchup at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The 6-5 Vikings have mustered just 16.5 points per game during their current slide, which leaves them sitting alongside Tampa Bay and a half-game back of the Washington Redskins in the race for the final NFC wild card berth.
The Cowboys, meanwhile, ride into Minnesota aiming to extend their franchise-record SU win streak to 11 games. Dallas is a reliable 9-1-1 against the spread this season, but is winless SU and ATS in their past five road dates with the Vikings.
Elsewhere, the Buccaneers, look to close the gap on first-place Atlanta in the NFC South when they visit the San Diego Chargers as 4-point underdogs.
Tampa Bay has entered the playoff mix with three straight SU and ATS wins, including last week’s 14-5 victory over Seattle as 5-point home underdogs. While the Buccaneers sport a vaunted offence, it is the defence that has stood tall during their current tear, holding opponents to just 10.6 points per game and to 17 or fewer points in five of seven outings.
The 5-6 Chargers maintained slim playoff hopes with last week’s 21-13 win in Houston as 2.5-point betting favourites, but are a meagre 4-7 SU and ATS over their past 11 at home.
The 7-4 Lions hope to build upon their lead atop the NFC North with a fourth straight SU victory when they visit the New Orleans Saints as 5.5-point underdogs. Detroit has relied on a stingy defence, holding opponents to 20 or fewer points in five straight games and forcing the point total UNDER in each.
However, the Lions must contend with an explosive Saints offence that has scored 35 or more points in four of eight games, fueling a 5-3 SU run in which they are 6-1-1 ATS.
As well, the 6-5 Texans look to avoid a third straight loss, which would drop them into a tie with the idle Tennessee Titans atop the AFC South standings, when they visit the Green Bay Packers as 5.5-point underdogs.
The NFC West-leading Seahawks host the Carolina Panthers on Sunday Night Football as 7-point betting favourites this weekend, while the Falcons will be gunning for a third straight home win when they entertain the Kansas City Chiefs as 3.5-point betting favourites.
