Vikings vs Bengals Predictions, Picks, Odds

The Cincinnati Bengals and the Minnesota Vikings meet in Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season at Paul Brown Stadium. This will be Joe Burrow’s first time to see action since suffering a devastating injury in his rookie year. Will the Bengals find success in his first game back? Or will the Vikings steal a win on the road in Week 1? Check out our preview of this game below.

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Betting Preview for the Minnesota Vikings vs Cincinnati Bengals Regular Season Week 1 Game on September 12, 2021

Where: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati

When: Sunday, September 12, 2021, 1:00 PM ET

Line: Minnesota Vikings (-3) vs Cincinnati Bengals (+3) – view all 2021 NFL lines

TV Broadcast: NFL Network

Betting on the Minnesota Vikings (-3)

Regular Season Record: 0-0

It’s still going to be Kirk Cousins under center this season for the Vikings even though they drafted a quarterback in Kellen Mond. Cousins will look to drive the offense for more success this 2021 after a season in which Minnesota ranked 11th in the NFL with 26.9 points per game and third with 393.2 total yards per contest. Minnesota’s offense keeps its key pieces in 2020. Apart from Cousins, Minnesota will rely on running back Dalvin Cook and the pair of wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen. Some moves made by the Vikings in the offseason are expected to result in an improvement on defense, and that could show right away against Cincy’s porous offensive line that was among the worst in pass protection last season.

The Vikings are 4-1 against the spread in their last five Week 1 games. The over is also 4-1 in Minnesota’s last five games as the favorite.

Betting on the Cincinnati Bengals (+3)

Regular Season Record: 0-0

The Bengals did not pick a crucial piece for Joe Burrow’s pass protection in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft and instead took wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. Well, Chase has been a disappointment in the offseason, but it’s still too early to write him off. Who’s to say that he’s not going to step it up once the lights are brighter? Chase should still stretch the field for wide receivers Tyler Boyd, Tee Higgins, and pass-catching running back Joe Mixon. Burrow and the Bengals’ passing attack could be the first team to expose Minnesota’s defense that added talent in the offseason but has obviously yet to test it in a regular-season game. Last season, Minnesota was third-worst in the league with 7.7 passing yards allowed per attempt.

The Bengals are 5-2 against the spread in its last seven games as the home team. The total has hit the under in four of Cincinnati’s last five September games.