Raiders vs. Vikings Week 3 Prediction
The Vikings blew an opportunity to go to 2-0 on the season when their defense faltered in the first half of their loss to the Packers and Kirk Cousins faltered late. Laying 9 points as a home favorite Sunday versus the Raiders, will the Vikes get back on track?
Game Snapshot
471 Oakland Raiders (+9) at 472 Minnesota Vikings (-9); O/U 43.5
1:00 p.m. ET, Sunday, September 22, 2019
U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
Public Betting Trends
According to our NFL Football Public Betting Chart page, the Vikings are receiving 53% of the betting tickets from online sportsbooks.
Oakland Raiders Fantasy Spin
Raiders RB Josh Jacobs (hip, illness) wasn’t listed on the team’s final injury report. Jacobs will suit up Sunday against the Vikings. Still, this is a brutal road matchup for the rookie. Complicating matters is Jacobs’ lack of pass-game usage, as Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington are expected to continue to get most of the offense’s pass-game work and could see additional snaps if Jacobs isn’t feeling 100% by Sunday. The Raiders are presently implied to score a mediocre 17.75 points.
Minnesota Vikings Fantasy Spin
Vikings LB Anthony Barr (groin) is questionable for the team’s Week 3 matchup against the Raiders. Barr’s absence would be good news for Josh Jacobs and the Raiders’ run game. Still, this is a brutal road spot for the entire offense, which is currently implied to score a pedestrian 17.75 points.
NFL Betting Trends
Oakland
The Raiders are 1-6 against the spread in their last seven road games but have covered five straight games following a loss.
Minnesota
The Vikings are 37-16-1 against the spread in their last 54 home games and are 5-1 ATS in their last six games following a failed cover in their previous contest.
Prediction
The Vikings opened as a 7.5-point favorite but the line has been bet up to 9 at most sports books. Despite not getting an optimal number here, I’m still going to lay the wood with Minnesota. The Raiders will have a difficult time moving the ball against a Vikings defense that shut out Matt Ryan and the Falcons in the first half in Week 1, then shut out Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in the second half of Week 2. Oakland looked sharp offensively in the first quarter versus Kansas City when it scored 10 points, but those were the only points the Raiders scored the rest of the afternoon. In what could be a low-scoring game, I like the Vikings to rely on their defense and running game to post a win and eek out a cover.
NFL Week 3 Prediction: Minnesota Vikings -9