Las Vegas Raiders (8-9 Last season) vs. Minnesota Vikings (7-10 Last season)
As the NFL preseason gets underway, fans and bettors alike turn their attention to the matchup between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Minnesota Vikings. Set to face off on Saturday, August 10, 2024, at the U.S. Bank Stadium, this game promises to be an exciting start to the football year. Both teams are looking to improve upon their disappointing records from last season, making this a critical outing for setting the tone for the year ahead. This game not only offers a glimpse into the potential of each team but also presents a prime opportunity for those involved in the best online betting to start the season strong.
The Raiders’ offensive line-up includes the running back Zamir White and wide receiver Davante Adams. On 104 rushes he made for 451 yards last season; he showed that he could be a reliable option in the backfield by averaging four point three yards per carry. His ability to break out on longer runs, which was evident by his two, is going to be very important for the Raiders’ ground game. Derek Carr’s number one receiver still remains to be Davante Adams. He had an impressive statistic of 103 receptions for 1,144 yards and eight touchdowns in his account last season only.He caught balls with significant yardages of 336 while making big plays after catches this will be critical when playing against a Vikings defense that had issues last year.
On their part, Vikings are banking on running back Alexander Mattison and wide receiver Justin Jefferson to spark their offense. Mattison gained 700 rushing yards from his 180 attempts in the just concluded season and therefore needs to improve on his average yards per run if they are to bolster their rushing attack. It will be important if he contributes towards creating a well-balanced offensive strategy. Despite playing only ten games last year, Jefferson’s total receiving yards stood at an impressive figure of 1,074 out of his 68 receptions indicating that he has amazing aptitude in turning routine plays into big gains averaging fifteen point eight yards per catch plus twenty five on offense over twenty.
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Minnesota Vikings Game Info
When: | Saturday, August 10, 2024, at 4:00 PM ET |
Where: | U.S. Bank Stadium |
TV: | NFLN |
Stream: | NFL Game Pass |
Aidan O’Connell QB vs. Nick Mullens QB
Aidan O’Connell, the Raiders’ quarterback, is heading into a make-or-break season as he looks to build on a mixed bag of rookie campaign statistics. In the previous season, he demonstrated strong character when faced with adversity and managed to maintain a completion of more than 60% even though he was sacked 24 times. How well he can connect to his key receiver Davante Adams will be vital in addressing his higher interception rate from last season.
However, Nick Mullens from Vikings enters the new campaign on a firm footing having achieved an impressive 67.6% completion rate in the few games he played last year. This shows that he could produce some significant plays if protected well since it resulted in an average of 8.8 yards per pass attempt. Nevertheless, his task now lies in reducing turnovers because his interceptions did not marry up with other good performance numbers for him.
NFL Odds/Point Spread: Minnesota Vikings -130, Total Odds: 33
The current betting odds favor the Vikings as slight home favorites with a -2.5 point spread and a moneyline of -130. The total for the game is set at 33 points, reflecting expectations of a moderately scoring game, aligning with preseason trends and both teams’ recent performances.
Las Vegas Raiders Betting Trends
The Raiders have had great skill in covering the spread as they are 4-0-1 ATS in their last five games. Despite this, their record against Minnesota is also concerning as they only won one for the past six encounters and they struggle ATS too. Their road performance also raises concerns, with only one win out of their last five road matches.
Minnesota Vikings Betting Trends
The Vikings have not been very effective at covering the spread, going 0-4-2 ATS over their last six games. Regardless of that though, they have a good history against the Raiders at home so far having gone 4-1 ATS within their previous five meetings in Minnesota. Of their last five games played, four OF them have finished up OVER suggesting that it could be an even higher-scoring affair than the odds suggest.
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Minnesota Vikings 8/10/24 Betting Picks
Based on the analysis and considering the preseason context where teams are still fine-tuning their squads, this game leans slightly towards the Vikings, particularly given their home advantage and historical performance against the Raiders. The Raiders’ recent road game struggles and the Vikings’ need to bounce back from a series of poor home games make this a critical matchup for Minnesota.
While the point spread suggests a close game, the Vikings’ slightly better offensive dynamics and the Raiders’ ongoing adjustments may tip the scale. For prop bets, consider looking at player-specific outcomes like total yards for key players such as Davante Adams and Justin Jefferson, who are likely to be focal points for their respective offenses. As for the over/under, the NFL picks today suggests leaning towards the OVER, given both teams’ potential offensive sparks.