Two new starting quarterbacks for their respective teams will be in for a marquee duel when the San Francisco 49ers and the Minnesota Vikings meet this Sunday in Minneapolis. Will Jimmy Garoppolo lead the Niners to a victory in his first Week 1 start for the team? Or will prized offseason acquisition Kirk Cousins have a smashing debut as a Viking?
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Betting Preview for the San Francisco 49ers vs Minnesota Vikings NFL Season Week 1 Game on September 9, 2018
Where: US Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
When: Sunday, September 9, 2018, 1:00 PM ET
Line: San Francisco 49ers (+6.0) vs Minnesota Vikings (-6.0) – view all 2018 NFL lines
TV Broadcast: FOX
Betting on the San Francisco 49ers (+6)
The 49ers have high hopes in their first full season with Jimmy Garoppolo as the team’s starting quarterback. San Francisco went 1-10 last season before it decided to start Garoppolo, and that decision paid huge dividends as the 49ers went 5-0 in five games to end the 2017 campaign. While Garoppolo gives the Niners are very optimistic view of their future, a devastating injury to one of their key pieces just several days before the 2018 season kicks off have thrown them off.
Running back Jerick McKinnon suffered a torn ACL in practice last week and has since been declared out of the season. This news have left the 49ers expecting Alfred Morris and Matt Breida to inherit the load in the backfield. It’s been announced that Morris will be the starting running back against the Vikings, but Breida will still see a bump in expected snaps. Last season, the 49ers rushed for 116.3 yards per game.
And of course, Sunday’s Week 1 game will also see the debut for the Niners of star cornerback Richard Sherman, who may not be as speedy as he used to, but he remains a smart defensive anchor for his team. His presence can make Minnesota’s Kirk Cousins think twice before targeting receivers Sherman is assigned to cover.
The Niners are 3-0 ATS in their last three road games.
Betting on the Minnesota Vikings (-6)
While the 49ers have suffered a setback in their backfield, Minnesota is set to enjoy the opposite of that situation, as the Vikings are ready to send running back Dalvin Cook back to the field after missing most of last season with a knee injury. Cook played in only four games last season, but managed to rack up 354 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
In his return, Cook should find more holes to slip into, with opposing defenses now more concerned with Minnesota’s passing game, thanks to the arrival of Kirk Cousins. Cousins is definitely an upgrade under center for the Vikings, who mostly relied on Case Keenum’s arm last season. In his final year in Washington, Cousins threw for 4,093 yards and 27 touchdowns against 13 interceptions. With Cousins in town, Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs are bound to have major upticks in their production.
Cousins’ entry into the team’s fold shouldn’t make people forget that Minnesota’s reigning MVP is its defense. With only a starter from last year lost over the offseason, the Viking’ stop unit are poised to contend for the league’s best honors again. In 2017, Minnesota allowed just 17.4 points (No.2) and 290.5 total yards (No. 2) per game.
The Vikings are 9-1 SU and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games at home.
Writer’s Prediction
Minnesota wins, 27-20.
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