Falcons vs. Vikings Week 1 Prediction
Julio Jones is armed with a new contract and he’ll need to have a big game for the Falcons if they’re going to upset a Vikings team that could be a sneaky Super Bowl contender. Will Atlanta pull off the upset today in Minnesota?
Game Snapshot
453 Atlanta Falcons (+3.5) at 454 Minnesota Vikings (-3.5); O/U 47
1:00 p.m. ET, September 8, 2019
U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
Public Betting
According to our NFL Public Betting Chart page, the Falcons are receiving 53% of the betting tickets as a 3.5-point underdogs over the Falcons.
Atlanta Falcons Fantasy Spin
Falcons signed WR Julio Jones to a three-year, $66-million extension through 2023. Jones gets a whopping $64 million of it guaranteed, setting a new bar by achieving 97% of his deal in guarantees. Jones and the Falcons are tied together for the next five seasons. The deal makes Jones the NFL’s highest-paid receiver. He’ll suit up Sunday for the team’s Week 1 matchup against the Vikings and is expected to be shadowed by Xavier Rhodes.
Minnesota Vikings Fantasy Spin
Stefon Diggs (questionable, hamstring) is expected to play in Week 1 against the Falcons. It was always trending this way once Diggs returned to practice (on a limited basis) Thursday. Despite this juicy matchup against the Falcons taking place indoors, Diggs needs to be downgraded given his average 4.3/37.3/0.1 receiving line in the six games he’s played through injury in his career. Adam Thielen remains a strong WR1 on Sunday.
Atlanta Betting Trends
The Falcons are 2-6 against the spread in their last eight games overall and are 1-4 against the number in their last five road games.
Minnesota Betting Trends
The Vikings have covered the spread in nine of their last 12 games in September and are 36-16-1 against the number in their last 53 home games.
Prediction
The Falcons’ season was ruined a year ago when they lost several key defenders, specifically Deion Jones, Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen in September. All three are back, but they’re going to need some time to knock the rust off. Meanwhile, Gary Kubiak was hired as an offensive consultant in Minnesota and his presence should have a positive impact on Kirk Cousins, who struggled in his first season with the Vikings. Out of the two defenses, I trust Minnesota’s more and I think Cousins will come out with an excellent Week 1 performance in a victory and cover for the Vikes this afternoon.
NFL Week 1 Prediction: Minnesota Vikings -3.5