NFL Week 2 Predictions: New England Patriots vs. Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots vs. Minnesota Vikings
Sunday, 9/14/14, 1:00 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: New England -3
Current Betting Line: New England -6
Opening Total: 49
Current Total: 48
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The New England Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski will look to connect with QB Tom Brady in Minnesota

New England hits the road for a second consecutive week to start the 2014 campaign, as it looks to bounce back from a 33-20 defeat to the Miami Dolphins as 3.5-point road favorites last Sunday, while going OVER the betting total of 47.5. Over the past 12 seasons, the Patriots have an 11-game winning streak against the NFC North, which is important to consider when making your Week 2 NFL predictions. The franchise has split its four all-time meetings when playing in Minneapolis. New England is 9-8 SU and 6-10 ATS on the road since 2012.

The Patriots have won three straight in the series with quarterback Tom Brady passing for eight touchdowns to one interception and compiling a QB rating of 110.7, which can’t be ignored when looking over the NFL betting lines Sunday. Brady is hoping to connect with star tight end Rob Gronkowski, who caught four passes for 40 yards with a touchdown in the opener.

Minnesota looks to build off a 34-6 victory over the St. Louis Rams as three-point road underdogs, as it won the statistical battle by 37 yards, while going UNDER the betting total of 43.5. The Vikings will be playing without the services of star running back Adrian Peterson, who was recently indicted in Texas on a charge of child abuse. He had 75 yards on 21 carries along with two catches for 18 yards in last week’s triumph. Minnesota is 5-4 SU and 5-3-1 ATS in September the last two-plus seasons, with the OVER going 5-4 in that situation.

The Vikings haven’t opened a season with back-to-back wins since going 6-0 in 2009, while quarterback Matt Cassel looks to get the better of it against one of his former teams, as he comes off a 17-for-25 effort for 170 passing yards and two touchdowns last week. He was 10-5 as a starter during the 2008 campaign when Brady went down with an injury, while he spent the next four years in Kansas City.