NFL Preseason Week 2 Odds & Picks for Saturday: 49ers vs. Vikings (8/20)
Let’s check out our top odds and pick for Saturday’s Week 2 NFL preseason game between the 49ers vs. Vikings.
And check out our picks for the other Week 2 NFL preseason action:
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NFL Preseason Week 2 Odds & Picks for Saturday: 49ers vs. Vikings
After participating in joint practices during the week, the San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings will duke it out for real Saturday night.
This line has steamed in Minnesota’s favor from -3 to the current number of Vikings -4.5. The reason why is San Francisco will likely rest the majority of their starters Saturday night, and that includes starting quarterback Trey Lance. The plan for San Francisco’s starters will be to participate in their preseason dress rehearsal Thursday night against the Houston Texans.
We don’t exactly know Minnesota’s plans as of yet. And it’s tough to find precedent in this new, shortened preseason format. Reports are the Vikings treated their joint practices with the 49ers as the most important days of training camp, which could suggest that their starters will sit as well. However, it wouldn’t stun me if Kirk Cousins got some work for a series or two after he missed the preseason opener due to COVID-19.
When gauging uncertain preseason games, I typically focus my attention on the backup quarterbacks. In this case, Minnesota has the advantage with Kellen Mond and Sean Mannion over San Fran’s tandem of Nate Sudfeld and Brock Purdy. For that reason, I’ll lay it with Minnesota.
Bet: Vikings -4
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.
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