The NFC North-leading Vikings look to extend their division lead in Week 13 when they welcome in the 7-4 Jets in a cross-conference bout (1:00 p.m. ET, CBS). Minnesota enters Week 13 coming off a 33-26 win over the Patriots on Thanksgiving, New York scored a 31-10 home win over the Bears last week in Mike White's first start of 2022.
It was a bounce-back performance for the Vikings after a 40-3 blowout loss to the Cowboys in Week 12, and they'll be looking to potentially clinch the NFC North on Sunday. Minnesota also has a chance to enter the playoffs as the NFC's No. 1 overall seed but would need to take care of business and have the Eagles slip up a couple of times.
The Jets are looking to hold on to the AFC's last playoff spot after making a big move at QB. Starting RB Michael Carter (ankle) might be out, but unheralded backup Zonovan Knight broke out with 103 total yards on 17 touches last week, and he could once again be a big factor.
WEEK 13 NFL PICKS: Against the Spread | Straight up
Can Mike White notch his second-straight victory as the Jets' newly appointed signal caller or will the Vikings claim their 10th "W" of the season?
For those looking for a play, we'll give you all the information you need before placing a wager on Vikings-Jets, including the updated odds from BetMGM, tips, and our prediction for this Week 13 late-afternoon showdown.
Vikings vs. Jets odds for NFL Week 13
- Spread: Vikings -3 (-110); Jets +3 (-110)
- Over/Under: 44.5
- Moneyline: Vikings -155; Jets +130
In the preseason look-ahead lines, Minnesota sat as a 4.5-point home favorite. The Vikings reopened as three-point favorites this Sunday, with the line staying put so far. Despite a 9-2 record, Minnesota sports just a plus-five scoring margin, as the betting market doesn't really respect the Vikings much. The total has seen more movement than the side, as it's been bet up from 42 to 44.5.
MORE WEEK 13 NFL: Odds, spreads
Vikings vs. Jets all-time series
The Jets lead the all-time series over the Vikings with an 8-3 overall record. The Vikings are currently riding a two-game winning streak over the Jets, most recently defeating the Jets 37-17 in October of 2018. The Jets' last win in this series came back in October of '10 when they notched a 29-20 home victory.
Three trends to know
-- The Jets continue to overperform relative to the betting market, sporting a profitable 7-4 ATS mark to go along with their 7-4 record. Every game the Jets have won, they've covered (and vice versa with games they've lost).
-- Despite a 9-2 overall record, betting Minnesota every week hasn't been profitable, as the Vikings currently post a 5-5-1 ATS mark.
-- According to BetQL, the Jets have "won both of their games against the NFC North this year and are a remarkable 4-1 SU on the road with three of those four wins coming as a road underdog."
Take advantage of BetQL’s 3-day free trial and see all of our best bets across all sports, including college football, NFL, and MLB!
Three things to watch for
J Jettas vs. Sauce
Containing Justin Jefferson is a major catalyst in the potential outcome of this game. Sauce Gardner is going to be tasked with slowing down Minnesota's top receiving option, and it's possible Sauce holds J Jettas in check. Gardner sports an elite 60.6 passer rating when targeted to go along with PFF's top coverage grade among CBs (88.9). When Jefferson's struggled, so have the Vikings. In both of Minnesota's losses this season (@ Eagles, vs. Cowboys), Jefferson has failed to reach 49 receiving yards. Even with two down games, Jefferson's still the most efficient WR in terms of his EPA added (+76.6) and leads all WRs in yards after catch (408). We'll see which star shows out.
Can Dalvin Cook make an impact?
Cook has been one of the most utilized running backs this season, logging the sixth-most carries (178) while playing on 74.6 percent of Minnesota's offensive snaps (fifth among RBs). Despite his heavy usage, he sports a -29.6 EPA on just 2.30 yards created per touch. With the Jets having one of the better secondaries in the league, Cook is going to have to be efficient on the ground to make Kirk Cousins' job easier. Cook is coming off another inefficient showing last week, rushing for only 44 yards on 22 carries, and he'll need to be better than 2.0 YPC if the Vikings have any shot of getting to 10-2.
Jets pass rush
While Cousins was sacked just once last week, there's a good chance he's pressured at a higher rate this Sunday. The Jets' pass rush is one of the best in the league, grading out as PFF's fourth-best unit (80.6). A large part of what makes the Jets' pass rush so good is their ability to get natural pressure without blitzing much. The Vikings' offensive line ranks slightly below average in terms of their pass-blocking grade per PFF (63.5), and the Jets' ability to get pressure could be a determining factor in this game.
Stat that matters
2.63 seconds. That was Mike White's average time to throw, which ranked him in the top 25 percent of all QBs in Week 12. White's ability to get the ball out quickly proves he knows the scheme and can read defenses well pre-snap. The Jets' offensive line has had its struggles, but White's ability to get the ball out negates that. Conversely, in games that Zach Wilson started, he sported the longest average time to throw (3.12 seconds). Right now, White gives the Jets the best chance to succeed.
Vikings vs. Jets prediction
Seeing the Vikings laying just three points at home looks short to the naked eye, but the betting market's pricing of this game is on point. The Jets' ability to generate natural pressure while limiting the run game can result in a subpar offensive showing from the Vikings. While it's unlikely Mike White replicates his Week 12 output on Sunday, he has the chance to have a good deal of success against an underwhelming Vikings' coverage unit. Minnesota's one-score game luck finally runs out as the Jets hand the Vikings their second home loss in three weeks.
PREDICTION: Jets 23, Vikings 20. New York (+3) covers the spread with the game going UNDER the total (44.5).
