The 2013 NFL season is still four months away, but Las Vegas bookmakers have already determined that the Minnesota Vikings are decided underdogs.

Cantor Gaming, which operates seven sports books in the nation’s gambling capital, has issued pointspreads for the first 16 weeks of the upcoming season. And they have the Vikings favored in only five of their first 15 games.

Of course, sports gambling is illegal at Bushwood, sir, as well as Minnesota. And past history is no guarantee of future results. But here is how the great football minds in Nevada see the Vikings’ slate.

Week 1: Vikings are 2-1/2-point underdogs at Lions.

Week 2: Vikings are 2-1/2-point underdogs at Bears.

Week 3: Vikings are 6-1/2-point favorites vs. Browns.

Week 4: Vikings are 1-1/2-point underdogs vs. Steelers (in London).

Week 5: Vikings bye week.

Week 6: Vikings are 2-1/2-point favorites vs. Panthers.

Week 7: Vikings are 3-point underdogs at Giants.

Week 8: Vikings are 1-point underdogs vs. Packers.

Week 9: Vikings are 1-1/2-point underdogs at Cowboys.

Week 10: Vikings are 1-1/2-point favorites vs. Redskins.

Week 11: Vikings are 6-point underdogs at Seahawks.

Week 12: Vikings are 4-1/2-point underdogs at Packers.

Week 13: Vikings are 1-1/2-point favorites vs. Bears.

Week 14: Vikings are 3-1/2-point underdogs at Ravens.

Week 15: Vikings are 3-1/2-point favorites vs. Eagles.

Week 16: Vikings are 2-1/2-point underdogs at Bengals.

The Cantor folks did not issue early lines on Week 17, mostly because they have NO idea which players will be sitting out that week in anticipation of the playoffs. So your guess is as good as theirs who will be favored when the Vikings play host to the Lions on Dec. 29.

Of course, that game is the Purple’s farewell to the Metrodome. So we’ll make the Vikings a four-point favorite to finish in style.

Follow Kevin Cusick at twitter.com/theloopnow