Tennessee Titans vs. Minnesota Vikings Odds & Game Pick (2020)
The Tennessee Titans are 2-0 and look like AFC Super Bowl contenders. The Minnesota Vikings are 0-2 and don't look anything close to the NFC Super Bowl contenders they were projected to be before the season began. What, if anything, will change in this matchup on Sunday, keeping in mind that home-field advantage really doesn't mean much when fans aren't allowed to attend games in this NFL pandemic season?
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Details
- Opening Line: Pick 'em
- Current Line: Tennessee -2.5
- Over/Under: 47.5
- Location: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Start Time: 1:00 PM ET
- Last Meeting: Vikings 25 vs. Titans 16 (9/11/16)
Overview
The Tennessee Titans haven't even gotten the best from running back Derrick Henry this season, and yet they are still 2-0. In Week 1, their defense earned a victory by holding the Denver Broncos to just 14 points. In Week 2, Ryan Tannehill and the passing game dazzled, with Tannehill hitting 18 of 24 passes for 239 yards and four touchdowns without an interception.
Henry has rushed 56 times for 200 yards in two games. That's an average of just 3.6 yards per carry. Defenses have contained Henry, but the price they pay is that Tannehill will get receivers in man coverage. His offensive line has been protecting him, so he will find open receivers on a regular basis. This was essential in the Titans' 33-30 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2. The mere threat of the running game with Henry leads defenses to put extra men in the tackle box, which frees up the perimeter for the Tennessee receivers.
The Titans have to feel good about this matchup, given that the Vikings' defense was ripped apart by the Packers in Week 1 and got worn down by the Colts' running game, with Jonathan Taylor, in Week 2. Taylor rushed for 101 yards on 26 carries as the Colts patiently eroded Minnesota's defense. Philip Rivers completed 19 of 25 passes, similar to Tannehill's ball-control passing attack for Tennessee against Jacksonville.
The ugly truth for the Minnesota Vikings is that Kirk Cousins is playing terribly. He has a league-worst four interceptions thrown and a 61.9 QB rating through two weeks. He did help Minnesota score 34 points in Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers, but practically all of those points were scored when the Vikings were trailing the Packers by two or more possessions. The Vikings were in constant catch-up mode, and the Packers were playing a soft prevent defense for much of the second half of that game. In terms of real production - meaning points scored when a game was close or when the Vikings had a chance to take a lead - Cousins and the offense have done absolutely nothing of significance this season. It has been a nightmare for a team that was viewed as a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
Trends
- Tennessee is 5-1-1 ATS in its last seven games as a favorite.
- Tennessee is 4-1 ATS in its last five games as a road favorite.
- Minnesota is 4-1 ATS in its last five games after scoring 15 or fewer points in its previous game.
Bottom Line
The performances of the two quarterbacks could not be more different. Ryan Tannehill has been efficient and responsible for Tennessee, while Kirk Cousins has been a disaster for Minnesota. It's true that the Vikings must win this game, but they look awful. Tennessee looks like a dependable, focused team with offensive balance. The Titans figure to win here.
Prediction: Tennessee 30, Minnesota 20 (Titans -2.5, Over 47.5)
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Dave Golokhov is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Dave, check out his archive and follow him @davegolokhov.