Minnesota Vikings (1-3 2-2 ATS) at Seattle Seahawks (4-0 4-0 ATS)
The Vikings may have saved their season by avoiding an 0-4 start with a win in their last game but to double up on their win total have to beat an undefeated Seahawks team that ranks second in the league averaging 35.5 ppg. The Seahawks are a 7-point favorite in this NFC matchup with a total at 57.5.
Even at 1-3 and on the road the public has backed the Vikings, as they opened as a 9-point underdog, and as of Wednesday are a 7-point dog.
Minnesota got their first win of the season in their last game beating the Houston Texans 31-23. Their first three losses came facing teams that are a combined 10-1.
While the Seahawks are undefeated and Russell Wilson is an early-season MVP candidate the team has played a far from tough schedule. Their four opponents have a combined record of 4-12 and Seattle’s last three games have been close.
The Vikings have the run game, but Kirk Cousins has struggled, and the team’s defense ranks 25th in the league giving up an average of 31.3 ppg.
These teams met last in the 2018 season when the Seahawks beat the Vikings 21-7.
The Seahawks have covered in five of their last six games facing the Vikings and have covered in their last four games facing them at home.
Cook Comes Through
In the Vikings 31-23 win over the Texans in their last game, Dalvin Cook came through big time, rushing for 130 yards with two TD. He leads the NFL in rushing yards and has 311 rushing yards in his last two games after totaling 113 in the first two games.
Cousins has been up and down on the season and after five INT in two games he was 16/22 for 260 yards with a TD and no INT in the win over Houston. Still, the Vikings only rank 28th in the league in passing yards per game and Cousins ranks 28th in QBR.
Rookie WR Justin Jefferson leads Minnesota with 348 receiving yards and has 278 of them in the last two games.
While the Seahawks are undefeated it is mainly because of the offense, as the defense has had their issues and is giving up an average of 27.3 ppg. They have given up the most yards in the league and their pass defense has been torched. Their pass D ranks dead last in the league giving up an average of 401 passing yards per game, which is 60 yards more per game than the second-worst pass defense has given up.
Wilson Has Been the Man
Russell Wilson ranks third in the league in passing yards and has 16 TD with only two picks. In the Seahawks last game, they beat the Miami Dolphins where Wilson passed for 360 yards with two TD and one INT.
DK Metcalf is tied for the league lead in receiving yards and has at least 106 receiving yards in each of his last two games.
Seattle ranks in the middle of the pack in terms of rushing yards per game and Chris Carson has been pretty solid in the last three games.
Getting to Wilson will be key for the Minnesota D and while Yannick Ngakoue has four sacks the rest of the team only has three.
Jason’s Prediction
The Vikings are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games as a road underdog while the Seahawks are 4-1 ATS in their last five games as a home favorite.
The Seahawks are undefeated and Wilson is playing great but the team’s secondary has been lit up and they have played a pretty weak schedule. On the other hand, the Vikings have played a killer schedule and are coming off their first win. The Vikings will put up a fight in the Great Northwest and while they may not get the W they will keep it close and, at least, cover the spread.
PICK: Vikings +7