The Minnesota Vikings (+3) are flying west to face the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. This crucial Monday Night game kicks off at 8:15 p.m. ET and ESPN has the TV rights.
Thursday NightBetting Preview: Minnesota Vikings vs. Seattle Seahawks
In what has potential to be a NFC postseason preview, Seattle has been projected as the favorite and the team’s currently giving up 3 points. The Vikings are also receiving +130 moneyline odds while the Seahawks are -150. It appears that there should be some decent live betting possibilities for this showdown, and oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 49 points.
Both of these teams have been profitable this season as the Vikings have gained 3.0 units and the Seahawks are ahead 7.0 units.
The Vikings have gone 8-3 straight up (SU) in 2019 while the Seahawks are 9-2 SU.
The Vikes got their second W in as many tries after a 27-23 win over Denver on November 17 in which Kirk Cousins completed 29-of-35 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns. Dalvin Cook (only 26 rushing yards on 11 attempts, one TD) led the ground attack while Olabisi Johnson (six receptions, 35 yards) and Stefon Diggs (five catches, 121 yards, one TD) manned the receiving duties in the win.
Seattle just put together a 17-9 win over Philadelphia a week ago. Russell Wilson completed 13-of-25 passes for 200 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Rashaad Penny (129 yards on 14 rush attempts, one TD) spearheaded the running game as Carson (four receptions, 31 yards) and DK Metcalf (three catches, 35 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the win.
Minnesota’s run the ball on 51.8 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Seattle has an overall rush percentage of 48.6 percent. The Vikings have produced 142.5 rush yards/game and have 14 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Seahawks are putting up 136.9 rushing yards per game and have 10 total rush TDs.
If 2019 numbers are any indication, then it seems like the Vikings may be the more disruptive team in the trenches, as their offensive line has given up only 40 sacks while the D-line logged 50 sacks. The Seahawks, on the other hand, have given up 51 sacks and their defense has logged only 43 sacks.
The Vikes offense has averaged 250.5 yards in the air overall and has 21 passing scores so far. The Seahawks have put up 267 pass yards per contest and have 24 total pass TDs.
Minnesota has allowed opponents to run for an average of 94.2 yards and pass for 265.8 yards per game. The Seattle defense has allowed 282.6 yards per game to opposing passers and 101.5 yards per game to opposing runners. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to opponents, as the Vikes have given up an ANY/A of 5.89 to opposing QBs, while the Seahawks are allowing an ANY/A of 6.01.
Offensively, Cousins is up to 2,536 passing yards this year. The signal-caller has completed 70 percent of his 288 attempts with 19 scores through the air and only three interceptions. Cousins has a pristine 8.52 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 8.15 over the last two outings.
Look for a balanced approach offensively from Minnesota in this one. Dalvin Cook, Stefon Diggs and Kyle Rudolph have collectively accounted for 491 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns as a trio over the last couple of outings.
For the home team, Russell Wilson has completed 213-of-318 passes for 2,705 yards, 23 TDs and two INTs. Wilson’s ANY/A sits at 8.42 for the year and 4.47 across his past two games.
We’re thinking the Seahawks will control tempo by feeding the running backs early and often. DK Metcalf (560 receiving yards, five TDs this season) has stepped up lately, but Chris Carson (790 rush yards, three rush TDs, 208 receiving yards, two receiving TDs) and Rashaad Penny (294 rush yards, two rush TDs) have really been focal points in the Seattle offense.
When these two franchises faced each other a year ago, Seattle won by two touchdowns 21-7.
Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks Free Prediction
SU Winner: Vikings, ATS Winner: Vikings, O/U: Over
Team Betting Notes
- The Vikings offense has produced six pass plays of 40+ yards, while the Seahawks have accounted for seven such plays.
- The Minnesota defense has allowed six pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Seattle has given up four such plays.
- The Minnesota offense has created 12 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while Seattle has created nine such runs.
- The Vikings defense has allowed two rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Seahawks have given up eight such runs.
- The Minnesota D has sacked opposing quarterbacks 31 times this season. Seattle has registered just 23 sacks.
- Minnesota, as a team, has rushed for 3.5 yards per attempt over its last three games and 3.5 over its last two.
- Seattle has averaged 5.7 yards per carry over its last three outings and 5.3 over its last two.
- In its last three matchups, Seattle is 3-0 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The O/U for Minnesota’s last game was set at 40.5. The over cashed in the team’s 27-23 triumph over Denver.
- Over its last three contests, Minnesota is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
- The O/U for Seattle’s last game was 45.5. The under cashed in the 17-9 win over Philadelphia.
- Minnesota has won seven of its last eight games SU, with a three-point defeat to Kansas City on November 3rd accounting for the only loss over that stretch.
- Seattle has won eight of its last nine games SU, with a -14-point loss to Baltimore on October 20th accounting for its only defeat over that span.