NFL Odds, Picks ATS: Minnesota Vikings at Tennessee Titans

Minnesota Vikings at Tennessee Titans
Time: NOON (CT) – FOX
Spread: MIN -2.5
M/L: MIN -145, TEN +125
Total: 40

Betting odds c/o 5dimes

The Minnesota Vikings season’s complexion dramatically altered when Teddy Bridgewater incurred a serious season-ending injury on a non-contact play. The Vikings scrambled and dealt a first and fourth round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for Sam Bradford. Bradford may not start Week 1, but he is a certainty to play and may finish the game. Shaun Hill may start, but many still expect Bradford to get the call.

Bridgewater is having surgery to repair the torn ACL on Thursday, but the Vikings still are hoping to salvage this season even if Bradford is not the vaunted player Bridgewater is becoming. The Tennessee Titans, meanwhile, are hoping to get further progression from second-year QB Marcus Mariota of Oregon. He showed considerable promise last year, but he battled injuries and is hoping to get more momentum this year. He has said to be sharp and engaged early this season, and he completed 23 of 31 passes in exhibition games for 319 yards while posting a QB rating of 104.1.

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The Titans are looking to pound the ball on the ground plenty this season with DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry as a powerful 1-2 tandem in the backfield. Murray led the NFL in rushing two seasons ago in Dallas, and Henry averaged six yards per carry in exhibition play. The Vikings, of course, pass it off to Adrian Peterson.

Peterson had his seventh 1,0000 yard season last year with 1,485 yards and 11 TDs, and even though he is now 31 he has not fallen off much at all. The Vikings will be searching for answers with Bridgewater out for the season, but Peterson is the engine behind this team and it is still an approach that will keep Minnesota competitive. They were 11-5 last season and this year may trend more towards eight or nine wins, depending on if Bradford can quickly adjust and fulfill some of his once-high promise. The Vikings have enough talent on both ends of the ball to be competitive, but with Bridgewater’s injury it is tough to see what could really take this club to the next level.

Perhaps just maintaining competitiveness is the goal in the wake of such an awful injury, and it remains to be seen, of course, if Bridgewater can even fully recover from what was widely-perceived to be a horrific non-contact injury. Players were ordered not to speak on it.

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Minnesota is hoping to replicate what the Denver Broncos have successfully done and ride a strong ground game and powerful defense to postseason success. Peterson could repeat as rushing champ, but Minnesota has a tough task to overpower Green Bay in the NFC North. A wildcard berth is of course a likelihood, though, even.

ATS TRENDS
Minnesota
• Vikings are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 road games.
• Vikings are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games on grass.
• Vikings are 37-17 ATS in their last 54 games overall.
Tennessee
• Titans are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games in Week 1.
• Titans are 16-33-3 ATS in their last 52 home games.
• Titans are 15-34-5 ATS in their last 54 games on grass.
• Titans are 15-35-4 ATS in their last 54 games overall.
OU TRENDS
Minnesota
• Under is 5-0-1 in Vikings last 6 games on grass.
• Under is 6-1 in Vikings last 7 games in September.
• Under is 12-3-1 in Vikings last 16 road games.
• Under is 13-4-1 in Vikings last 18 games overall.
Tennessee
• Over is 4-0 in Titans last 4 games in September.
• Over is 4-1-1 in Titans last 6 games overall.
• Under is 4-1 in Titans last 5 games in Week 1.
HEAD TO HEAD
• Home team is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 meetings.
• Vikings are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings.
• Favorite is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings.