Two teams with an extensive pre-season history will face off Sunday night at U.S. Bank Stadium as the Minnesota Vikings entertain the Seattle Seahawks. The teams have faced off in the pre-season in each of the previous three years, and Sunday’s encounter will mark the 18th time these NFC rivals will tangle in exhibition action. The Vikings eked out a 21-20 victory in their last pre-season encounter; the sides will also meet in December during the regular season.

NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis

The Vikings opened at -3.5, and the line has moved ever so slightly in their direction as they look to build off last week’s 34-25 road triumph over the New Orleans Saints. And while this game won’t have the feel of a regular-season contest, Minnesota has been a difficult foe in its own stadium, having gone 36-16-1 ATS in its previous 53 home games. That said, Seattle comes in having gone 5-1 ATS in its last six regular-season road contests.

With starters on both sides expected to see more action this weekend than they did in their respective pre-season openers, it’s no surprise that the total is 41.5, higher than the Week 1 numbers for both teams. For what it’s worth, seven of the 16 games that took place in Week 2 of the 2018 pre-season went over 40 points, while both the Seahawks and Vikings saw their respective Week 2 contests finished below the 40-point barrier.

Seattle Seahawks

This might be more significant to fantasy football players than bettors, but the Seahawks made a statement this week by suggesting that running back Chris Carson would be the no-doubt RB1 to start the season. From a betting perspective, that might mean Carson will see less work in the pre-season – a development that would not only allow him to rest ahead of the regular season, but to also see how the rest of the running backs fare in the battle for the RB2 spot.

Minnesota Vikings

While most of the key skill position battles have already been decided in Minnesota – Kirk Cousins is the QB1, Dalvin Cook the RB1, and Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs form one of the most potent receiving tandems in the league – there’s still much to be decided. At the top of the list: how the special teams unit will fare; the team acquired dual-threat kicker Kaare Vedvik this week, and he could challenge both punter Matt Wile and kicker Dan Bailey for a starting role.

SEAHAWKS

Away

17

VIKINGS

Home

20

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Predictions

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