The Minnesota Vikings and the Houston Texans are both off to horrible starts, but their seasons are still salvageable. One team’s losing streak can end this week, though, there’s a possibility that this game gets canceled due to reports of COVID-19 infections among the Tennessee Titans, who battled the Vikings last Sunday.
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Betting Preview for the Minnesota Vikings vs Houston Texans Regular Season Week 4 Game on October 4, 2020
Where: NRG Stadium
When: Sunday, October 4, 2020, 1:00 PM ET
Line: Minnesota Vikings (+4) vs Houston Texans (-4) – view all 2020 NFL lines
TV Broadcast: FOX
Betting on the Minnesota Vikings (+4)
Regular Season Record: 2-1
The Vikings got 181 rushing yards and a touchdown on 22 carries from running back Dalvin Cook in Week 3. They also seemed to have seen the birth of a new star after rookie wide receiver Justin Jefferson exploded for 175 receiving yards and a touchdown on just seven receptions. But here’s the thing: the Vikings still lost to the Tennessee Titans at home, 31-30. Even when accounting for the three turnovers they had (two from Kirk Cousins’ interceptions), the Vikings, on paper, looked like they should have won that game. But their defense was just horrible, and the offense might have to carry this team when it goes to Houston. In such a case, the Vikings are ready. They are getting production from their passing and rushing attacks, with the latter ranking eighth in the NFL with 146.7 rushing yards per game and first with 6.0 yards per carry. Cook should “cook” again in Week 4 opposite Houston’s league-worst run defense that is allowing 188.3 rushing yards per contest.
The under is 3-0 in the Vikings’ last three road games.
Betting on the Houston Texans (-4)
Regular Season Record: 1-2
After the Texans suffered a 28-21 road loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday, it won’t surprise us if your reaction to it was amazement at the fact that Bill O’Brien still has a job. If O’Brien wants to keep that job any longer, he’ll have to plead for this defense to tighten up. He could also lean on his offense to take advantage of Minnesota’s own faulty defense. The Vikings are giving up 34.0 points per game — second-most in the NFL. They also have the third-worst total defense, with 440.0 total yards surrendered per contest. David Johnson coughed up just 23 yards with a consolation touchdown on 13 carries against Pittsburgh’s iron curtain defense, but he should have more space to breathe on the ground against Minnesota that just gave up 119 rushing yards and two touchdowns to Derrick Henry. The Texans need that ground game to get going to open up things for Deshaun Watson and the team’s passing attack that’s averaging 242.0 yards per game.
The under is 2-0 in the Texans’ last two home games.
Writer’s Prediction
The Vikings win, 33-27.
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