The San Diego Chargers play host to the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday Sept 11th, as the Chargers try to spoil Donovan McNabb's Vikings debut. The Vikings won their last meeting 35-17, at home, but it was back in 2007. NFL oddsmakers have the Chargers as -8.5 point home favorites over the Vikings with the over/under set at 41.5 points. Start the 2011 NFL season off right by getting your bet on the latest Vikings vs Charger Spreads available now.
Minnesota has 34 returning players on their 53-man roster. They also have three former practice squad players, eight draft picks, one undrafted rookie, a guy from the United Football League, a waiver claim, four free agents and, of course, Donovan McNabb, their starting quarterback who was acquired via trade with the Redskins. The Vikings are both young and old. They have 16 players with fewer than three years of NFL experience, including nine rookies. But they also have eight starters who are 30 or older. Their starting five offensive linemen have a combined 316 NFL starts. But their five backups have a combined one NFL start. With players such as Adrian Peterson, Percy Harvin, Jared Allen, Chad Greenway, Winfield, E.J. Henderson and Kevin Williams — when he returns from his two-game suspension — the Vikings have the core talent to surprise their non-believers. They also head to San Diego with eight new starters, so, then again, who knows, especially in the rugged NFC North.
San Diego will play their first game against the Vikings since Adrian Peterson broke the single-game rushing mark during his rookie season four years ago — No. 28 will still be the focus of the team's defense. So the Chargers upgraded the NFL's top-ranked defense in 2010 over the offseason by adding veterans Takeo Spikes, Travis LaBoy and Na'il Diggs, three of the 11 linebackers the team kept on its 53-man roster. Bob Sanders, who has missed 39 of 48 games over the past four years, will add moxie to San Diego's strong safety spot if he can stay healthy. QB Phillip Rivers is coming off one of his best seasons. He had a career-high 4,710 passing yards with 30 touchdowns and 13 interceptions and a 101.8 passer rating, leading the Chargers to the NFL's top-ranked offense. One area San Diego identified for improvement is preventing turnovers after committing 29 last season. The Chargers totaled a league-low 76 over the previous four years. "The key for us offensively is to protect the ball," Rivers said. "We turn it over way too many times early in the year last year. You look back on seasons where we've won a bunch of games, we've took care of the football."
Recent Trends to Consider:
Vikings are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games as a road underdog.
Vikings are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games as a road underdog of 3.5-10.0.
Chargers are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games on grass.
Chargers are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games as a favorite of 3.5-10.0.
Chargers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games.
Chargers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a home favorite.
Chargers are 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 games overall.
Under is 4-0 in Chargers last 4 home games.
Under is 4-0 in Chargers last 4 games as a home favorite.
Over is 11-2 in Chargers last 13 games in September.
Minnesota Vikings vs San Diego Chargers
When: Sunday Sept 11th@4:15 PM ET
Pick: Chargers -8.5
Point-Spreads recommends you check the latest NFL Odds before the Vikings vs Chargers game starts.
The Bottom Line: The Chargers ooze high powered offense. Start the 2011 NFL season off right by getting your bet on the latest Minnesota Vikings vs San Diego Chargers Spreads available now.
