Tennessee Titans at Minnesota Vikings NFL Betting Preview
Two teams who picked up playoff wins last season but are trending in opposite directions this season meet in Week 3 as the 0-2 Minnesota Vikings host the 2-0 Tennessee Titans. Kickoff is set for 1 pm ET on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis and will be televised regionally on CBS.
Most of the players and coaches were not on their current teams when these teams last met in 2016, which ended up a 25-16 Vikings win in Nashville. The Vikings lead the all-time series 9-4 and are 5-1 since the Titans moved to Tennessee from Houston.
The Titans’ lone win in that span came at home in 2008, and they last won in Minnesota in 1992.
Tennessee Titans Betting Outlook: Protect The Ball
The Titans are 2-0 for the first time since 2008, and both wins have come on last drive field goals. In Week 2, they blew a 14-point lead but beat Jacksonville 33-30 on a Stephen Gostkowski 49-yard field goal with 1:41 remaining.
The Titans have not turned the ball over on the season, but the defense has had trouble getting off the field, allowing an NFL-worst 56.5% conversions on third down.
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill threw four touchdown passes against Jacksonville with 239 yards on 18-of-24 passing. Tannehill has completed over 70% of his passes on the season and has six touchdowns with zero interceptions.
Derrick Henry ran 25 times for 84 yards on Sunday. The workhorse already has 56 carries on the season for 200 yards but has yet to find the end zone.
Tight end Jonnu Smith was the big target in Week 2, catching four passes for 84 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receivers Adam Humphries and Corey Davis had the other TD receptions.
Humphries leads the team with 11 receptions on the season, while Davis has a team-leading 137 yards, and Smith has three scores.
The defense forced two turnovers and recorded one sack. Harold Landry and Kristian Fulton had the interceptions while Kenny Vaccaro and Jack Crawford logged the sacks. On the season, the Titans have allowed 5.1 yards per carry, 29th in the NFL.
Minnesota Vikings Betting Outlook: Unleash Cook
The Vikings followed up a season-opening 43-34 home loss to Green Bay with a 28-11 road setback at Indianapolis in Week 2. Through two games, they rank 32nd in the league in passing yards, 29th in total yards, 28th in first downs and 31st in time of possession.
The defense is 30th in first downs allowed, 29th in passing yards allowed, 28th in rushing yards allowed and 31st in points allowed.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins was ineffective against the Colts with three interceptions and just 113 yards on 11-of-26 passing. Overall in two games, he is 30-for-51 for 372 yards with two touchdowns and four interceptions. He has been sacked for a safety in both games.
Running back Dalvin Cook ran 14 times for 63 yards and a touchdown against the Colts. In two games, Cook has just 26 carries for 113 yards but does have three touchdowns. In the passing game, he has just three receptions for six yards.
The receivers were a non-story against the Colts, with no one having more than three catches or 44 yards. Adam Thielen, who has both Vikings touchdowns, leads the team with nine receptions and 141 yards on the season.
Rookie Justin Jefferson has five catches for 70 yards while tight end Kyle Rudolph has just two catches for 28 yards.
The defense, so reliable through the years, has been gashed for 35.5 ppg. They have allowed over 280 yards per game passing and 155 yards per game rushing. They have forced just one turnover and have just one sack.
Tennessee Titans at Minnesota Vikings Betting Lines
● Titans spread: -2.5 (-110); Titans moneyline: -140
● Vikings spread: +2.5 (-110); Vikings money line: +120
● Total: 47.5 points (Over -110, Under -110)