Minnesota Vikings vs Cincinnati Bengals Pick and Preview

Posted on December 15, 2023

Non Conference NFL Matchups

Point Spread: Bengals -3 | Total Points: 40

Heading into the game, the Vikings are the 6th ranked team in the NFC with a record of 7-6. Against other teams in the Conference, they have a mark of 6-3. In their most recent game, the Vikings beat the Raiders by a score of 3-0. Favored by 3, the Vikings finished with a push vs. the spread. The under bettors were successful in the Vikings’ most recent game, with a combined total of 3 points. The game’s betting line was 40.5.

As the Bengals prepare for this AFC matchup, the team has an overall record of 7-6. This includes riding a current two-game winning streak. Against AFC opponents, they have a record of 3-6. The Bengals hosted the Colts in week 14. The Bengals finished the game with a 34-14 win. Heading into the game, the Bengals were favored by 3. Their 20-point win was enough to cover the spread. The team, in conjunction with Indianapolis, combined for 48 points, surpassing the over/under line of 44.5.

Minnesota Vikings vs Cincinnati Bengals History

The last three times that the Bengals have faced off vs. the Vikings as the favorite, they have gone 3-0. It is worth noting that even though the Bengals have gone 2-1 vs. the spread in the three most recent matchups vs. the Vikings, they are just 0-3 the last three times they hosted the Vikings.

In their last five road games, Minnesota has averaged 19 points per game while allowing 14. The team’s record in this stretch was 4-1 while going 4-0-1 vs. the spread.
Across their last five home contests, Cincinnati has been good against the spread, posting a mark of 3-2. Their overall mark in these games was 3-2 while averaging 24 points per game.
Minnesota has done well both straight up and vs the spread as the underdog, going 3-2 SU and 3-2 ATS in their last five games.
In their last three games as the betting favorite, the Bengals have a strong straight up record of 2-1. In addition, their ATS record was 2-1 in these scenarios.

Notable Injuries

Minnesota Vikings

Kirk Cousins – Achilles (Out)
Jordan Hicks – Lower Leg (Questionable)
Dean Lowry – Pectoral (Out)
Marcus Davenport – Ankle (Out)
James Lynch – Knee (Out)
Justin Jefferson – Chest (Questionable)
Cam Akers – Achilles (Out)
Alexander Mattison – Ankle (Questionable)
Olisaemeka Udoh – Quad (Out)
Dalton Risner – Ankle (Questionable)
Chris Reed – Illness (Questionable)
Brian O’Neill – Ankle (Questionable)
Jalen Nailor – Concussion (Questionable)
Ed Ingram – Hip (Probable)
Malik Knowles – Undisclosed (Out)

Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Burrow – Wrist (Out)
Joe Bachie – Oblique (Questionable)
Tyler Boyd – Foot/ankle (Probable)
Ja’Marr Chase – Ankle (Probable)
DJ Turner II – Ankle (Probable)
Devonnsha Maxwell – Knee (Out)
Devin Cochran – Knee (Out)
Jaxson Kirkland – Wrist (Out)
Cam Taylor-Britt – Quad (Out)
Tycen Anderson – Knee (Out)

Keys To Victory: Minnesota Vikings

In what is projected to be a tightly contested game, Nick Mullens will be looking to put together a strong performance for a Minnesota offense ranked 18th in points per game. For the season, Mullens is averaging 83 passing yards per game through the air. This figure has him sitting 55th among quarterbacks. Mullens comes in with a passer rating of 86.4 and is averaging 9.2 yards per completion. Against the Bengals, the team will look to get receiver T.J. Hockenson involved in the passing game. This year, he is averaging 8.9 targets per game, leading to an overall receiving yards total of 839. On the ground, the Vikings have carried the ball an average of 24.2 times per game and currently rank 27th in rushing yards. Their average rushing yards per attempt is 3.9.

Keys To Victory: Cincinnati Bengals

At home, the Bengals are averaging 22.1 points per contest compared to their overall numbers of 21.5 points per game. In the league, Cincinnati is 16th in overall scoring. The Bengals will be led by Jake Browning who, over five games, has completed 75.5% of his passes and currently sits at 33rd among quarterbacks in passing yards. His passer rating stands at 110.9. Heading into this week’s game, the team’s below-average number of rush attempts has turned into an average of just 84.7 rushing yards per game.

Betting Trends

In their last ten games away from home, the Vikings have a straight-up record of 6-4 while going 6-2-2 vs. the spread. The team averaged 21 points per game in this stretch.
In their last ten games at home, the Bengals have a straight-up record of 6-4 while going 6-4 vs the spread. The team’s offense averaged 22 points per game in these contests.
In their last three games as the betting underdog, the Vikings have a strong straight-up record of 2-1. In addition, their ATS record was 3-0 in these scenarios.
In their last ten games as the betting favorite, the Bengals have a straight-up record of 7-3 and an ATS mark of 4-6.