Vikings Vs. Raiders Prediction: NFL Week 10 Point Spreads, Picks And ATS Trends
By Abraham Gutierrez
Coming as a bit of a surprise, NFL oddsmakers have issued their opening point spreads for the Week 10 battle between the (6-2) Minnesota Vikings and (4-4) Oakland Raiders, despite the fact that the playing status of starting quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater has yet to be determined.
Even though the former Louisville standout passed initial testing – following a vicious blow to the head during the Vikings 21-18 win over St. Louis last week – he's yet to hurdle the NFL's concussion protocol, as he would need to pass a cognitive test before being cleared to play. On Wednesday, the Vikings revealed that the 23-year-old from Miami, Florida, was only able to participate in team practices on a limited basis.
"He passed his first test, so we should be good to go, I think," said an optimistic Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer. "He hasn't passed all of his tests yet, but he has passed one. I think he'll be good to go."
Vikings vs. Raiders 2015 NFL Week 10 Point Spreads
Nevertheless, NFL Week 10 spreads indicate that the Vikings [+3] will go into the Black Hole listed as betting underdogs by a field goal versus the much-improved Raiders [-3]. The OVER/UNDER tallies 44 points, and straight-up betting lines go as follows: Minnesota [+135] vs. Oakland [-155].
Vikings vs. Raiders Head-to-Head ATS Stats & Consensus (Week 10)
Because this will only be the 15th time these teams have met on the gridiron, there isn't an abundance of head-to-head ATS betting trends to study. In fact, there's only one relevant piece of information on the matter, and that is that the betting underdog comes in with an impressive 4-1 record the last five times they've crossed paths.
Also worth noting is that Minnesota has proven to be a more reliable ATS option than Oaktown thus far in the year. ATS records in 2015 indicate that the Vikings are 7-1-0 thus far, compared to a Raiders team that hasn't covered the spread with as much regularity, sporting a 5-3-0 mark with eight games in the books.
Having all that said, bettors still believe that the smart money is on the Raiders at -3 at home in Week 10. This is evident by the fact that an overwhelming 63 percent of the ATS action has been pro-Oakland, while the difference – 37 percent to be exact – has gone for the underdog Vikings at +3 on the road.
Minnesota Vikings Relevant ATS Stats (Week 10)
Assuming that Bridgewater is able to give it a go, there just really aren't too many reasons to bet against the Vikings. Leading the NFC North, this team has been nearly flawless straight up and against the spread. They're currently 7-0 following a straight-up win, 4-0 after allowing more than 150 rushing yards and 4-0 in their last four games played in the month of November.
Furthermore, the Vikes are 5-1 in their last six games away from TCF Bank Stadium, 16-5 after an ATS win, 22-8 in their last 30 ATS games overall, 19-7 after accumulating less than 150 passing yards and 7-3 in their last 10 games played on grass.
Oakland Raiders Relevant ATS Stats (Week 10)
Excluding those who live under a rock, most people are aware that this year's Oakland Raiders are a pretty good team. ATS statistics support that notion, as, much like their counterparts, there aren't too many deterrents for those looking to put their hard-earned money on the home club.
Thus far, the Raiders are 5-1 after allowing more than 30 points, 4-1 in their last five games played in November, 6-2 after a straight-up loss, 5-2 in their last seven home games, and 4-1 in their last five contests following games in which Derek Carr has thrown for more than 250 passing yards the week prior.
NFL Week 10 Prediction ATS Picks: Oakland Raiders -3
Abe Gutierrez's (Twitter: @GutierrezAbe) passion led him to ditch law school journey in order to launch his own publishing company. His expertise make him a valued addition to Examiner.com, AXS.com and the CBS-Sports family. Some of his work can be found on CBS-Miami (Dolphins), CBS-LosAngeles (Chargers), CBS-BayArea (Raiders), CBS-NewYork (NY Jets), CBS-TampaBay (Buccaneers), AXS.com, Examiner.com and other online publications.
