The NFL is back. With Week 1 still about a month away, the preseason is officially underway as of Thursday. One of the most intriguing games of the lot will see Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings visit the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Kick-off is scheduled for 10 PM ET. It’s unlikely the main culprits get many reps here since it is preseason, but the likes of Cousins, Justin Jefferson, DK Metcalf, and Geno Smith may see a snap or two. Below, find the Vikings vs Seahawks picks.
Before we get into the odds, preview, and prediction, check out our NFL betting odds and Super Bowl odds for 2024.
The Seahawks sit as a -5 favorite on the spread here and -190 on the moneyline at home. The Vikings come back at +165. The total in points sits at 35. While Minnesota did win their last meeting in 2021, Seattle won seven in a row against them prior to that, dating back to the 2012 regular season. But, it is preseason, which means it’s a difficult one to predict.
The Vikings had a respectable campaign in 2022, finishing with a 13-4 record which put them at the top of the NFC North with ease because the division was so poor. But, Minny disappointed in the playoffs, losing in the Wild Card Round to the New York Giants by a score of 31-24. Cousins certainly put his best foot forward, completing 31 of 39 passes for 273 yards and two touchdowns without throwing a single pick. But, the defense couldn’t do enough to stop Daniel Jones and Co.
It was honestly a bit surprising to see where the Vikings ended up considering their statistics. They ranked towards the bottom of the league in points scored and points allowed, not really shining in any particular area. Other than the absolutely phenomenal play of Justin Jefferson, no one really stood out. Jefferson finished with an NFL-best 1,809 yards receiving to go along with eight touchdowns. He averaged 24 yards per catch, too. Jefferson will undoubtedly be a massive part of what Minnesota does in 23′.
When it comes to offseason moves, the Vikings released Adam Thielen and also saw Irv Smith Jr leave for the Bengals. That’s two offensive weapons for Cousins gone. Plus, Dalvin Cook is also no longer with the team, which means it’s up to Alexander Mattinson to be RB1. There’s a good chance Minny won’t be as solid in 2023 with some notable losses, plus the Detroit Lions got a lot better and could be the favorite in the division.
The Seahawks honestly shocked the NFL last year by even making the playoffs. After trading away Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos, no one gave them a chance of finishing above .500. But, led by Geno, Seattle exceeded expectations and finished with a 9-8 record. While they ended up losing in the opening round to the San Francisco 49ers, it was a definite step in the right direction to begin the post-Wilson era.
Smith was definitely the leading catalyst behind their success. After years of being a backup across the league, the veteran signal-caller really found himself in Seattle. He posted monster numbers, throwing for 4,282 yards, 30 touchdowns, and just 11 interceptions while completing nearly 70% of his passes, all career highs. He even won the AP Comeback Player of the Year. Thanks to Geno’s fantastic season, he was awarded a brand new three-year, $105 million extension. The Seahawks expect big things from him again and didn’t even draft a QB because of his brilliance last year.
Seattle managed to add some very intriguing pieces in the offseason as well, specifically through the draft. They took Illinois standout corner Devon Witherspoon with their first pick in April while also drafting Ohio State star Jaxon Smith-Njigba and UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet. With a great young core and no shortage of weapons offensively like Kenneth Walker, DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and possibly even Smith-Njigba, the sky is the limit for Pete Carroll’s group in the NFC West.
As previously mentioned, it’s nearly impossible to accurately predict preseason outcomes. A lot of bench players and practice squad guys are getting a chance to prove themselves while most of the starters are just getting their reps in training camp. But based simply on Seattle’s notable success against Minnesota, I’d have to take the Seahawks moneyline. They will start off with a win. Hammer the moneyline.
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