Raiders vs. Vikings Betting Odds & Picks: Will Minnesota Stay Dominant on the Ground?

Raiders at Vikings Betting Odds

• Odds: Vikings -9
• Total: 43.5
• Time: 1 p.m. ET
• TV Channel: FOX

Odds above as of Thursday afternoon and via PointsBet, where Action Network users can exclusively bet every NFL spread this season at reduced juice (-105).

The Minnesota Vikings' comeback fell short in Green Bay, but sportsbooks have them favored by a touchdown over the visiting Oakland Raiders. So far bettors appear willing to lay the points as 60% of tickets are backing the purple people.

Our analysts break down the most important angles of Sunday's matchup, featuring a look at Sean Koerner’s projected odds and a pick.

Raiders-Vikings Injury Report

Which team is healthier? Vikings

The Vikings have some injuries on the defensive front, but nothing of note. However, the Raiders could be in trouble with offensive lineman Gabe Jackson (knee) still out and now lineman Trent Brown (knee) hasn’t practiced all week.

Brown is Pro Football Focus' best-graded offensive lineman through the first two weeks, and the Vikings have a top 11 defense in terms of sack and pressure rate thus far — Justin Bailey

Note: Info as of Thursday. See our Injury Report for daily practice participation and game statuses up until kickoff.

Sean Koerner's Projected Odds

• Projected Spread: Vikings -8.5
• Projected Total: 42.5

The action on this total has been completely split, yet it’s been bumped from 43 to 43.5 since opening. Despite my number only being a point lower, it’s worth pulling the trigger on the under if the total reaches 44.

Both teams are 2-0 to the under, and while we don’t give a whole lot of weight to small sample sizes like that, their game plans are conducive to a low-scoring matchup.

The Vikings will try to run the ball at will, and if they get out to an early lead, they’ll continue to lean on their run game and defense to preserve it. The Raiders should have a similar game plan while the matchup is still competitive. And they don’t have the talent to stage a comeback if they fall behind and are forced into a pass-heavy game script.

This game has under written all over it.— Sean Koerner

Biggest Mismatch

Vikings Passing Attack vs. Raiders Secondary

This sets up as a pretty good matchup for Kirk Cousins to break out of an early season slump. Due to some scheme changes and improved play at the linebacker position, the Raiders' defense is much more formidable against the run than it was a season ago.

In fact, Oakland has allowed just 2.8 yards per carry through the first two weeks of the season, which ranks fourth in the league.

However, due to some subpar corners and an unfortunate injury to Oakland’s first-round draft pick safety Jonathan Abram, this secondary is extremely vulnerable. And while the Raiders do look better against the run, Dalvin Cook should still get his in Gary Kubiak’s zone run blocking scheme.

That should open up the passing lanes for Cousins and his outstanding wide receiving duo of Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs. Look for the tight end(s) to get involved down the seam and Cook out of the backfield to exploit a group of linebackers and safeties better suited for defending the run.

Some of Cousins’ struggles since arriving in Minnesota can be pinned on a horrid pass-blocking offensive line. That unit is still an area of weakness but Oakland just doesn’t excel at generating pressure.

This is a great matchup for Minnesota’s passing attack to really get going. — Stuckey

Expert Pick

Mike Randle: Vikings -9

This game has all the makings of a big Minnesota win. Over the past three seasons, head coach Mike Zimmer’s Vikings have a 76% winning percentage and 7.62 point differential in home games.

In Week 1, the Vikings put on a dominant defensive display against a Falcons offense that is vastly superior to Oakland. Minnesota won 28-12 and sacked Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan four times.

The Raiders were 1-7 on the road last season and that one win was against the Cardinals. Oakland allowed an average of 28.5 points and scored an average of 13.9 points in their eight road games. The Raiders 27th ranked pass defense is now short-handed with Abram out for the season with a shoulder injury.

Minnesota will be undaunted by Oakland’s fourth-best run defense DVOA (per Football Outsiders). Cook leads the NFL with 265 rushing yards and a 6.5 yards per carry average. He totaled 165 rushing yards last week in Green Bay against the Packers' stout run defense.

Through their first two games, the Raiders have relied heavily on rookie running back Josh Jacobs, who ranks fifth among all running backs with 35 rushing attempts. However, Jacobs' status for Sunday is questionable with a groin injury.

Take the Vikings at home to easily cover the spread in Oakland’s first road game of 2019. I would feel comfortable taking this line up to Minnesota -9.5.