Vikings vs. Panthers prediction, odds, line, spread, start time: 2023 NFL picks, Week 4 bets by proven model
Winless teams meet on Sunday afternoon with a chance to begin turning around their 2023 seasons as the Minnesota Vikings and Carolina Panthers clash. Minnesota enters off a heartbreaking 28-24 home loss to the Los Angeles Chargers where they had plenty of opportunities late to pull out the win. Carolina fell in Seattle, 37-27 despite Andy Dalton's solid performance replacing an injured Bryce Young. The Vikings won the most recent meeting in 2021, a 34-28 overtime victory in Charlotte.
Kickoff from Bank of America Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET. The Vikings are listed as 4.5-point road favorites and the over/under for total points scored is 46.5 points in the latest Minnesota vs. Carolina odds via SportsLine consensus. Before making any Panthers vs. Vikings picks, you need to see the NFL predictions and betting advice from the computer simulation model at SportsLine.
The model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, is up more than $7,000 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception. The model enters Week 4 of the 2023 NFL season on an incredible 167-117 run on top-rated NFL picks that dates back to the 2017 season. It is also on a 21-9 roll on top-rated NFL picks since Week 7 of last season.
The model also ranked in the top 10 on NFLPickWatch four of the past six years on straight-up NFL picks and beat more than 94% of CBS Sports Football Pick'em players four times during that span. Anyone who has followed it is way up.
Now, the model has set its sights on Panthers vs. Vikings and just locked in its picks and NFL Week 4 predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several NFL odds and betting lines for Vikings vs. Panthers:
- Vikings vs. Panthers spread: Vikings -3.5
- Vikings vs. Panthers over/under: 46.5 points
- Vikings vs. Panthers money line: Vikings -220, Panthers +1179
- Vikings vs. Panthers picks: See picks at SportsLine
- Vikings vs. Panthers live stream: fubo (try for free)
Why the Vikings can cover
Kirk Cousins may lead the league in passing yards with 1,075 but it's seemingly all for naught as Minnesota is 0-3 thus far this season. In Sunday's loss, he threw for 367 yards on 32 of 50 passing, with three touchdowns and one interception. With Minnesota's season on the brink, it's fair to wonder if Cousins may become trade bait if the Vikings lose on Sunday. One reason to keep him for the entirety of 2023 is to keep arguably the best wide receiver in the game, Justin Jefferson, in good spirits. Jefferson caught seven passes for 149 yards on Sunday and leads the NFL with 458 yards through three games.
Minnesota's problems are mostly on defense as they've shown an inability to stop teams consistently this season. The Vikings are surrendering 27.3 points per game and have generated only two turnovers through three games. Minnesota has a league worst -7 turnover differential and must improve significantly if they expect to get back into the race for a playoff spot in the NFC. See which team to pick here.
Why the Panthers can cover
With No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young out for Week 3 with an ankle injury, veteran QB Andy Dalton filled in admirably, throwing for 361 yards and two touchdowns on 34 of 58 passing in Seattle. Young, who struggled in his first two NFL games, lis set to return this week in an attempt to generate the team's first win of 2023. He's only thrown for 299 yards combined against division rivals Atlanta and New Orleans, and Carolina only generated a meager two touchdown drives in the games he's played in.
Sunday's game should mean the most to veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen, who played his first nine years in Minnesota before becoming a Panther this offseason. In last Sunday's game, Thielen looked like his vintage self, catching 11 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown. With Minnesota surrendering the 7th most passing yards (261.7 per game), this could be an opportunity for Young to get the offense on track in a must win game. See which team to pick here.
How to make Vikings vs. Panthers picks
The model has simulated Vikings vs. Panthers 10,000 times and the results are in. It is leaning Under on the point total, and it's also generated a point-spread pick that is hitting in 60% of simulations. You can only see the model's Panthers vs. Vikings pick at SportsLine.
