Vikings vs. Buccaneers: NFL Week 1 Picks & Player Prop Bets (2023)

Introducing the Week 1 edition of the BettingPros primer, brought to you by Bettingpros.com! I’m Andrew Erickson, and I’m here to guide you through each game on the NFL slate, offering insights and recommendations on sides, totals, and player props that you can quickly turn into a big single-game parlay. Whether you’re a seasoned bettor or just dipping your toes into the world of NFL wagering - I know that I am for the first time now that my state has legalized wagering - this primer is designed to provide you with valuable perspectives and picks for the upcoming NFL week of action. Get ready to tackle the NFL season with a betting lens as we break down the Week 1 matchups and identify our favorite bets and picks. Stay tuned for an exciting journey through the world of NFL betting - it’s time to elevate your game! Here are my top picks for all remaining Week 1 games. And below I offer my top picks and player prop bets for Vikings vs. Buccaneers.

NFL Betting Primer: Vikings vs. Buccaneers

Minnesota Vikings (MIN) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (TB) – Spread: TB +6.0

The Minnesota Vikings were one of the most overrated teams last season, finishing with a fraudulent 13-4 record despite a negative point differential. They have no means of a pass rush, which was even considering the team's recent trade of Za'Darius Smith, Minnesota's No. 1 pressure generator in 2022. Danielle Hunter is coming off a season-ending torn pectoral injury. Expect their defense led by Brian Flores to blitz a ton and rely heavily on man coverage. This will make life tough on Baker Mayfield, but also potentially lead to big plays. Their defense ranked 31^st in explosive receptions allowed last season. Considering Tampa is the inferior opponent they are going to need a few things to go in their favor, which they certainly can do based on their talented players at WR and RB.

I like the over 45.5 in a sneaky dome shootout and for the Buccaneers to cover in Mayfield's first start. And it's less about liking Tampa Bay - although I feel they are undervalued with current offensive personnel - and more about fading an overrated Vikings team (and horrible defense) from last season.

A player who will play a large role in ensuring the Buccaneers offense gets points is running back Rachaad White. His 2.5 receptions prop is egregiously low. Once he became the starter last year over Leonard Fournette, he hit the over in 6 of his 7 games played. Mayfield is a dump-off savant and will look toward White as a check-down option early and often.

My pick: Over 45.5 (-110 DraftKings Sportsbook)
My Props: Rachaad White OVER 2.5 receptions (-150 DraftKings Sportsbook)

What is Betting Against the Spread?

Betting "against the spread" refers to the act of choosing the winning team based on a numeric handicap placed on the team that oddsmakers believe is superior, rather than picking the outright winner. For example, if the Rams face the Bengals, and oddsmakers set the spread at Rams -3.5, you would need Los Angeles to win by 4 or more points in order to cash your Rams bet.

What is an Over/Under Bet?

Over/Under is a wager based on how many points you think will be scored in a specific game. Oddsmakers set the total, and bettors decide whether the final score will be higher or lower than that number. If an Over/Under is set at 44.5 points and you bet Over, you will need the combined score of both teams to be 45 points or higher to win your bet.

What is a Moneyline Bet?

A moneyline bet involves choosing which team you believe will win a specific matchup. The moneyline favorite carries a minus designation, like -130. This means that you need to wager $130 to earn a $100 profit. Conversely, the underdog carries a plus designation, like +110. This means that you win $110 in profit on a $100 bet.