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The 1-0 Minnesota Vikings will have their work cut out for them in Week 2 when they host the 1-0 San Francisco 49ers on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Led by veteran journeyman quarterback Sam Darnold (19 for 24, 208 yards, two touchdowns), the Vikings took care of the hapless New York Giants 28-6 on Sunday in New Jersey. Justin Jefferson and Jalen Nailor each scored receiving TDs, while Aaron Jones scored in his Minnesota debut.
However, the Niners pose a unique threat. The defending NFC champs routed Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets 32-19 on Monday Night Football and remain the favorites to win the NFC (+240) at DraftKings. The Vikings, on the other hand, are +3500 to win the conference.
Let’s take a closer look at this NFC showdown at our favorite NFL betting sites.
Game Details
- Matchup: San Francisco 49ers vs. Minnesota Vikings
- Date: Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024 (Week 2)
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
- Location: U.S. Bank Stadium (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
- Watch: CBS
Odds Summary
- Moneyline: 49ers -218, Vikings +180
- Spread: 49ers -5 (-108), Vikings +5 (-112)
- Total: Over/Under 46.5 (-112/-108)
Odds from DraftKings Sportsbook and subject to change.
49ers vs. Vikings Moneyline
San Francisco smothered the Jets defensively and ran the ball at will with Jordan Mason (28 carries, 147 yards, one touchdown), who started for the injured Christian McCaffrey.
The Niners’ offense put up 400-plus yards without arguably the most important non-quarterback in football. Their defense held New York to just 266 yards and limited Rodgers to just one passing touchdown.
So, as expected, San Francisco once again looks like a top Super Bowl contender after crushing a likely playoff team. Minnesota also looked great last week, but its dominant performance against Daniel Jones & Co. should be taken with a grain of salt.
If coach Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings somehow surprise the Niners, then we can start taking them seriously. But we’re betting on the 49ers to win and start 2-0, even if McCaffrey sits again.
49ers vs. Vikings Spread
San Francisco was one of the best road teams in the NFL last year, going 7-2 away from home and covering six points in all of its road wins.
Darnold knows the 49ers’ defense well after practicing against it every day last year as Brock Purdy’s backup. But knowledge does not necessarily translate to success, even though Minnesota’s offensive weapons are above average.
Darnold backed up Purdy for a reason – because he’s not as good. San Francisco also has the edge on defense and will likely cause trouble for Darnold, who has a career 60 percent completion rate with nearly as many interceptions (57) as touchdowns (65).
Back the 49ers to cover the spread and beat the Vikings by at least a touchdown.
49ers vs. Vikings Over/Under
The total implies a final score of 25.75-20.75, which seems a bit low at first glance based on San Francisco’s efficient offense and Minnesota’s well-balanced attack.
That said, Darnold could be running for his life against Joey Bosa, Leonard Floyd, Fred Warner and the rest of the 49ers’ aggressive defense. Darnold is far less talented than Rodgers and will likely struggle to move the ball downfield, putting the Under in play.
Even if San Francisco tops 30 points again, Darnold’s looming regression makes the Under our pick here.
49ers vs. Vikings Props
Brandon Aiyuk Over 3.5 Receptions (-140)
Aiyuk got stifled in Week 1, pulling in just two catches for 28 yards against New York’s Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, who is arguably the best cornerback in football. Aiyuk also missed a huge opportunity to reel in a touchdown when he missed a sliding catch on a beautiful ball from Purdy.
Aiyuk’s offseason holdout lasted until the final week of the preseason, and his timing with Purdy looked off, especially with Gardner shadowing him. That should change this week, as we’re expecting Aiyuk’s output to be closer to his average of 6.6 receptions per game last year after a full week of practice.
Take the over on this prop bet.
Sam Darnold Over 0.5 Interceptions (-145)
Darnold did not miss on his first 12 passes last week, producing a surprisingly efficient performance in his old home stadium.
He still threw a pick to the Giants’ suspect secondary, however, which means the ball-hawking 49ers should go off. They intercepted Rodgers last week and are poised to get another one this week against Darnold, who has as many interceptions as starts (57) in his career.
49ers vs. Vikings Best Bets Summary
- Moneyline: 49ers (-218). Even on the road and potentially without McCaffrey, San Francisco is still the better team and should win this game outright.
- Spread: 49ers -5 (-108). The Niners have covered six points in 11 of their past 12 road wins. Minnesota isn’t expected to compete for the playoffs, so San Francisco should handle the Vikes fairly easily.
- Total: Under 46.5 (-112). The Niners’ defense is arguably the best in all of football and should be able to keep Darnold off schedule. There were fewer than 45 points in six of San Francisco’s nine road games last year, including its loss in Minnesota.
- Prop 1: Brandon Aiyuk Over -3.5 Receptions (-140). Aiyuk managed just two catches last week after a lengthy offseason holdout but should rebound after a full week of practice with Purdy.
- Prop 2: Sam Darnold Over 0.5 Interceptions (-145). Darnold is averaging one interception per start in his NFL career and will face a defense that practiced against him all of last year. San Francisco’s secondary should produce at least one pick.
Photo by Adam Bettcher/ Getty Images
