NFL Picks: Vikings Vs. Panthers Week 3 Game Odds, Predictions

Editor’s note: NESN.com’s Mike Cole, Ricky Doyle and Andre Khatchaturian deliver their NFL picks every Thursday of the season, and here’s who they like in the Minnesota Vikings-Carolina Panthers Week 3 game, with the line from OddsShark.

Minnesota Vikings (2-0) at (-7.5) Carolina Panthers (1-1), 1 p.m.
Mike: Panthers. This kind of feels like a spot for a letdown on Minnesota’s part. The Vikings probably won’t have Adrian Peterson, and it would be legitimately shocking if Sam Bradford has another gem … especially on the road.
Ricky: Panthers. Kelvin Benjamin will be the X-factor, as his combination of size and strength could cause problems for the Vikings’ secondary, especially if Xavier Rhodes doesn’t play. Also, it’s hard — downright impossible, really — to envision Sam Bradford putting a team on his back two weeks in a row.
Andre: Panthers. Even with Adrian Peterson, the Vikings weren?t running the ball well (1.9 yards per play), so if the ball is constantly in Sam Bradford?s hands against the Panthers? defense, I sense ugly things happening for Minnesota.