At the onset Minnesota impressed all in their preseason opener at Denver. To begin with they jumped out to a 17-0 lead en route to a 42-28 win. Minnesota utterly dominated the NFL betting payout. Above all new quarterback Kirk Cousins showed well in his Viking debut. In contrast Jacksonville collapsed in the fourth quarter against New Orleans last week. As a result, the Jaguars dropped their preseason opener 24-20. By contrast expectations remain high for the Jags. After all they were a near miss for the Super Bowl last January. The Jaguars and Vikings meet Saturday.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Minnesota Vikings
Date and Time: Saturday, August 18, 2018, 1 p.m. ET
Location: US Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
NFL Betting Online Odds:
| Team | Spread | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaguars | +4½ (-115) | 40 (-109) |  |
| Vikings | -4½ (-105) | 40 (-111) | |
| |||
Jaguars vs. Vikings TV Coverage: NFL Network
Minnesota Vikings
Regardless of it being preseason Vikings fans are thrilled with the brief appearance of Kirk Cousins last Saturday. At Denver he was 4-4 for 42 yards with a touchdown. To this end he finished with a passer rating of 150. Consequently Viking fans have lost their minds. Though this may be so even NFL betting handicappers were impressed. To illustrate Minnesota nearly made the Super Bowl with Case Keenum. Thus, the theory that Cousins will get them over the top. After that opener Cousins must be loving his escape from Washington.
Roc Thomas
Additionally, Minnesota dominated the Broncos with a 406-299 edge in total yards. Along the same lines they held a 24-14 first down advantage. The Vikings had two takeaways in the game. Owing to the win was wide receiver Roc Thomas. The rookie caught three passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns. Not withstanding Cousins big game was Trevor Siemian. Especially impressive was his 11-17 for 165 passing performance with two touchdowns.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville actually outgained New Orleans 271-265 despite the loss. Late on the action New Orleans rallied with 14 fourth quarter points. On the while quarterback Cody Kessler impressed. To show he was 14-17 with 139 yards and a touchdown. Blake Bortles was also solid with 6-9 passing for 53 yards. By contrast was a sluggish ground attack. For instance, Jacksonville gained just 72 yards on 26 carries.
Stats to Consider
Meanwhile the Jaguars defense was not exactly stout against the rush. New Orleans had 135 yards on 34 carries with three touchdowns. Of course, the Minnesota rush defense was the one blemish in their win. Denver ran for 110 yards on 19 carries.
Team vs Team
Now Minnesota has been an outstanding preseason sportsbook betting value at home. In one example they have covered six of their last nine home exhibitions. Five of their last seven in that role went over the total. Following this are the Jaguars strong preseason marks on the road. In particular Jacksonville has paid in seven of their last nine away exhibitions. Eight of their last nine in this situation went under the total.
Matchup to Watch
Consistent with the NFL betting optimism on Minnesota are their great preseason numbers. Likewise, they are playing with confidence and momentum. Furthermore, a big crowd should be on hand in the home opener. In sum the Vikings at home in preseason are proven to pay.
Jaguars vs. Vikings Betting Odds Pick
To conclude the Vikings are an attractive pick on Saturday.
Jaguars vs. Vikings Betting Odds Pick: Minnesota Vikings
Jaguars vs. Vikings Online Betting Score Prediction: Vikings 24, Jaguars 14
Check out highlights of the Vikings win at Denver!