The New England Patriots’ preseason continues Saturday as they go on the road to face the Minnesota Vikings in a cross-conference affair. The team looks to build off the momentum of their 48-18 Week 1 victory over the Washington Commanders.
The kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET with the game airing on DAZN. Those looking to wager on the game will have no shortage of betting markets to choose from in what is projected to be a close game.
The oddsmakers favor Minnesota as the Vikings are 1.5- to 2.5-point favorites depending on which of the best Massachusetts sportsbooks you look at. The over/under is between 37.5 and 38.5 points.
Patriots vs. Vikings predictions and best bets
Over 37.5 points: -110 odds at Caesars Sportsbook
New England Patriots team total Over 13.5 points: -250 odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
New England Patriots 175+ Receiving Yards: -240 odds at FanDuel Sportsbook
This is an exciting defensive affair, but both offenses are coming off explosive performances in Week 1. The Patriots put together a 48-point showing against the Commanders, and the Vikings scored 20 points against the Texans. I expect the experience and aggression of both teams to shine through in this matchup, resulting in this total going over 40 points.
The -250 odds may not be appealing, but in the preseason, it’s better to play it safe. Many are looking forward to the Patriots’ offense after the team scored 48 points last week, but oddsmakers are hesitant to boost their line too much against a stingy Vikings defense. New England showed it has plenty of ways to score, even while going against a tough matchup like Minnesota should be.
The wide receiver battle continues for New England, which should result in plenty of passing reps against one of the top defensive minds in the NFL. Quarterback Josh Dobbs should be more efficient during his time on the field this week, and if Ben Wooldridge can continue to produce, then this team has the weapons to rack up yards through the air.
Patriots vs. Vikings moneyline analysis
Why the Vikings could win as the favorite
Best odds:-125 at BetMGM Sportsbook
The Vikings didn’t seem to miss a beat from their 14-3 campaign last season as they limited the Texans to 10 points in their preseason opener last week. Minnesota’s proven depth gives it a great chance to win in any matchup this preseason.
Quarterback will be a position to watch as both Sam Howell and Max Brosmer shined in the team’s 20-10 victory over Houston. Expect the offense to let both passers have a chance to prove themselves as they look to secure their spot on the 53-man roster.
Minnesota’s ability to generate pressure and create takeaways (three interceptions against Houston) will be its way of limiting opponents both now and in the regular season. It will be a major advantage if they continue to generate chaos in the backfield against the Patriots’ offensive line.
Why the Patriots could win as the underdog
Best odds:+120 at DraftKings Sportsbook
It’s not often a team that just won by 30 points heads into the next week as an underdog, but the preseason is a different beast. Still, there is reason to buy the Patriots as an improved team that can pull out the victory.
The team is filled with young talent that is still proving itself worthy of playing a key role this season. Rookies such as TreVeyon Henderson, Efton Chism III, and Craig Woodson were all impactful in the team’s 48-18 thwarting of the Commanders.
A big reason why oddsmakers likely have the Vikings favored is thanks to defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ ability to generate pressure. However, the Patriots did a nice job of keeping their quarterbacks clean last week with just one sack allowed. They’ll be tough to beat in this Week 2 contest if they can continue to have that success up front.
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