NFL Tips: Our 22/1 Thanksgiving Bet Builder for Patriots @ Vikings on Thursday

The Vikings should get back to winning ways in Thanksgiving's Thursday night game

New England Patriots @ Minnesota Vikings Bet Builder

  • Handicap: Vikings -2.5
  • Total Points: Under 42.5
  • Anytime Touchdown: TJ Hockenson
  • Rhamondre Stevenson: Over 31.5 Receiving Yards

*A Bet Builder on these 4 selections pays at over 22/1 on PaddyPower.com*

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Handicap: Vikings -2.5

The Vikings were on a seven-game winning streak going into last week’s match-up with the Dallas Cowboys but turned into a flock of Thanksgiving turkeys against one of the league’s toughest defences.

Dallas’ offence also had their way with the NFC North leaders, running out 40-3 winners on the road, a result that means, despite winning eight and losing just two games this season, the Vikes have allowed more points than they’ve scored this season.

Their capitulation will give encouragement to a Patriots team that won one of the ugliest games you’re ever likely to see with a punt-return touchdown with just five seconds left on the clock. They shared a flurry of punts with the Jets on their way to that 10-3 win that serves to underline how limited their offence has been this year.

Mac Jones is not enjoying his second season in the league and has few reliable targets around him despite New England’s effective rushing attack,

That means we have to trust Kirk Cousins in a Primetime TV game despite his reputation for flopping on the big occasion as Minnesota have the weapons in Justin Jefferson, TJ Hockenson and Dalvin Cook to pull away from a limited Pats offence.

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Total Points: Under 42.5

The Vikings’ points differential shows that, even when they’ve been winning, it’s been tight. They won seven games in a row, though all were within a score.

New England’s defence might be the best in the league, though they have faced some weak offences too.

They’ve also seen Under in 12 of their last 18 road games, and their offensive struggles mean 42:5 looks too high to us.

DETROIT, MI – OCTOBER 20: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings warms up prior to the start of the game aganist the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on October 20, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)

Anytime Touchdown: TJ Hockenson

Bill Belichick is famous for targetting and neutralising opponents’ main offensive threat, and that has to be Justin Jefferson for the Vikings.

He’s emerged as one of the very top receivers in the league this season, making miraculous catches as Minnesota picked up those tight wins and being a real difference maker in those match-ups. He’s averaging over 100 yards per game and on pace for over 1,800 on the season.

If New England key in on him as they should, that could force Kirk Cousins to look elsewhere, especially in the endzone. TJ Hockenson has had six targets in the redzone in his three games as a Viking, and is already established as the quarterback’s second favourite receiver ahead of Adam Thielen with 21 catches in total since his Week 9 trade from Detroit.

He’s yet to score in purple but it can only be a matter of time before he does.

Rhamondre Stevenson: Over 31.5 Receiving Yards

Tony Pollard on Sunday tore it up against the Vikings for Dallas out of the backfield, making six catches on six targets for over 100 yards.

Rhamondre Stevenson is just about the only success story in the New England offence this season. Though a running-back, he’s being passed to at a rate equivalent to a secondary wide receiver, with 41 catches on 49 targets. He only has 283 yards on those catches, but it just takes one decent catch and run to hit the number here.

New England Patriots @ Minnesota Vikings Bet Builder

  • Handicap: Vikings -2.5
  • Total Points: Under 42.5
  • Anytime Touchdown: TJ Hockenson
  • Rhamondre Stevenson: Over 31.5 Receiving Yards

*A Bet Builder on these 4 selections pays at over 22/1 on PaddyPower.com*

TAP HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP INSTANTLY

*All quoted odds and lines correct at time publication but subject to change

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