Bengals vs. Vikings Point Spread: NFL Week 3 Odds, Prediction
Week 3 of the 2025 NFL season includes a showdown between backup quarterbacks, as the Cincinnati Bengals (2-0) battle the Minnesota Vikings (1-1) on Sunday afternoon in Minnesota. Jake Browning is taking over in Cincinnati, and that will be the case for the next three months, as Joe Burrow is sidelined due to toe surgery. For the Vikings, J.J. McCarthy is expected to miss at least two games with a sprained ankle and will give way to Carson Wentz.
In this AFC vs. NFC matchup, there aren’t any notable head-to-head trends. For whatever it’s worth, the Bengals have won each of the last two meetings by identical 27-24 scores – both in overtime. The Over is 2-0 in their two previous encounters and 3-1 in their last four.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Vikings come in as -3 favourites on the NFL odds, making the Bengals +3 underdogs. On the moneyline, the home side is -155 and the visitors are +130. The game total is 42 points, with both the Over and the Under priced at -110.
Dating back to last season, Cincinnati is 5-2 against the spread in its previous seven contests, and the Over is 8-4 in its last 12. Minnesota is 1-5-2 ATS in its latest eight games, and the Over is 5-1 in its last six.
Cincinnati Bengals
This is not Browning’s first rodeo filling in for Burrow. The 29-year-old played nine games for the Bengals in 2023, when he threw for 1,936 yards with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Browning threw three picks after Burrow went down last weekend, but the Washington product also tossed two touchdown passes, and his 241 yards helped Cincinnati come back to beat Jacksonville 31-27.
The Bengals defence will have to step up with Burrow sidelined, and they’ve done exactly that through two weeks. They held Cleveland to 16 points in the season opener and came up with two interceptions of Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence this past Sunday.
Minnesota Vikings
Wentz has a ton of starting experience in the NFL, but none of it has been good since 2019. In fact, the 32-year-old will become the first quarterback in league history to start for six different teams in six consecutive seasons. Wentz was actually decent for Indianapolis in 2021, but he has not been good enough for any of those franchises to keep him around, even as a backup.
McCarthy is not the only injured player for Minnesota. Running back Aaron Jones is also out, fullback C.J. Ham is on injured reserve, and four other key starters are questionable in offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw, center Ryan Kelly, linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, and safety Harrison Smith.
NFL Prediction: Who Will Win Bengals vs. Vikings?
It’s hard to have any faith in Wentz, given his recent track record, whereas Browning inspires at least some semblance of confidence. Cincinnati is 5-5 all-time when Browning plays – nothing special, but also not a terrible record.
The infirmary report is also of grave concern for the Vikings. Crucial contributors on both sides of the ball are either questionable or have already been ruled out. Even in Minnesota (where the Vikings just got manhandled by the Falcons 22-6), this may be a favourable situation for the visitors.
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