Bucs vs. Vikings Total Pick
Will the Minnesota Vikings get back to putting up points when they return home to host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday at 1PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Minnesota is favored at home, as the Vikings are getting odds of -2 points against the Bucs. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 41 points. Tampa has won six of the last seven in this series and the two have hit the over in four of the last seven meetings. Sunday’s game takes place from U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota and will air live on FOX.
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Tampa Bay opened its season last week with a 29-7 win over the Bears at home, going under the 44-point total. The Bucs only had a 311-310 edge in total yards, but the defense forced four turnovers to lead the way to the win. Jameis Winston had 204 passing yards with a touchdown while Mike Evans caught seven passes for 93 yards and a score. Jacquizz Rodgers was the leading rusher with 67 yards and a touchdown. Despite the good defensive effort, the Bucs suffered some big injuries. Both Gerald McCoy (ankle) and Brent Grimes (shoulder) are questionable for this game.
Minnesota is 1-1 on the season and 1-1 with the total after suffered a 26-9 loss to the Steelers in Pittsburgh last week. Last week’s game was far different from the 29-19 win over the Saints as Sam Bradford was unable to play in the loss due to a knee injury. Without him, the offense was held to just 237 yards against the Steelers. Bradford threw for 346 yards and three touchdowns in the first game and he is going to miss this week’s game as well. His abscense should hurt Dalvin Cook as well. Cook has run for 191 yards through two games. Defensively, Minnesota is allowing 348 yards per game, including just 81 rushing yards per contest.
I would expect the Vikings to struggle again without Bradford back in the mix. The offense won’t be able to sustain drives while the defense will be on the field more. Tampa has a dangerous offense but is still prone to turnovers and the Bucs likely won’t have much of a rushing attack against the Minnesota front. Minnesota is 9-3 with the under in its last 12 games in September and the Bucs are 4-0-1 with the under in their last five after a win.
NFL WEEK 3 PREDICTION: BUCCANEERS/VIKINGS UNDER 41
