Falcons vs. Vikings Point Spread: NFL Week 2 Odds, Prediction
The Falcons are coming off a tough 23-20 season-opening loss to the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers and have now lost seven of nine overall, dating back to last November.
The Vikings will play under the lights for a second straight week after eking out a 27-24 comeback victory in Chicago on Monday Night Football. Minnesota opened their campaign looking to build on an impressive 14-3 campaign in 2024, which included a sparkling 8-1 straight up record on home turf.
The Vikings hit the gridiron for their home opener perched as 3.5-point favourites on the NFL Week 2 odds. The Falcons trail as +165 NFL moneyline underdogs and the total is pegged at 44.5.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
These NFC rivals will square off for the third time in as many seasons on Sunday night, which also marks their first primetime matchup since 1981.
The Vikings outclassed the Falcons in a 42-21 home victory last season and have now won and covered the spread in six of seven regular season meetings since 2011. That marked the third time in as many meetings that the total topped 60, sparking a 3-0 run for the OVER after seeing the UNDER pay out in seven of their previous eight dates.
In addition to averaging 32 points scored over their past three versus Atlanta, the Vikings also regularly run up the score at home last season, averaging 28 points per game.
Conversely, the Falcons face the daunting task of spark a moribund attack that averaged just 16.6 points while going just 1-4 SU and 0-4-1 ATS in their final five road games of 2024.
Atlanta Falcons
Michael Penix Jr. made his debut as the Falcons’ undisputed starting quarterback last season, with mixed results. Penix connected on 27 of 42 pass attempts for 298 yards and one touchdown and added a scoring run but squandered opportunities with good field position including a late drive deep into Bucs territory that ended with a missed field goal in the dying seconds that would have tied the game.
Penix is not helped by a rash of injuries to his receiving corps, with both Drake London and Darnell Mooney nursing shoulder injuries that has left them questionable for Sunday. In addition to more carries for Penix, that could mean a busy evening for the backfield duo of Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier, who could create headaches for a Vikings rush defence that surrendered 119 yards and one score in last week’s win.
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings slumbered through the first three quarters of last week’s clash with the Bears. The Vikings were held to under 10 yards in four of their six drives in the first half and looked destined to lose after stalling on their first three drives after recess.
However, the duo of quarterback JJ McCarthy and rusher Jordan Mason quickly flipped the script during a 60-yard drive into the end zone that opened the flood gates in the fourth quarter. McCarthy can be forgiven for the slow start. Selected 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the 22-year-old made his debut last week on Monday Night Football after missing the entirety of last season to injury.
McCarthy finished the evening with 143 passing yards and two TD passes, and ran for 25 yards and one score. While he has yet to demonstrate chemistry with his receivers, McCarthy flashes too much talent to take lightly. With his debut out of the way, look for McCarthy to take the next step, paying out as +100 bet on the NFL player props to connect on OVER 1.5 TD passes as the Vikings extend their dominance over a Falcons squad that remains a work in progress.
NFL Prediction: Who Will Win Falcons vs. Vikings?
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