Let’s get into our Monday Night Football insights for this week between the Seattle Seahawks and the Minnesota Vikings. As always, this game is available for betting in all leagues at Wannamakeabet.com this evening. Let’s jump right into tonight’s game analysis and prediction.
The Line from Wannamakeabet.com: Seattle – 3 O/U 46
This is the second-consecutive night game between playoff contenders from the NFC West and NFC North. This time, the team from the West is hosting, and hoping for a better result than the Rams had last night against the Bears.
The Seahawks, current holders of the No. 5 seed with their 7-5 record and owners of a three-game winning streak, host the Vikings, currently occupying the No. 6 slot with their 6-5-1 record. This game could have a lot of impact on the playoff picture, especially if the Vikes can’t come away with a win. Both squads are likely playing only for wild-card spots right now And yet one season after sitting one victory away from the Super Bowl, the Vikings (6-5-1 SU, 6-5-1 ATS) are in danger of missing the playoffs all together.
The Seahawks (7-5 SU, 7-3-2 ATS) have come back to life in the NFC Wild Card race in the last month by pulling out three consecutive victories. The latest triumph came in a 43-16 rout of the 49ers last Sunday as 10-point favorites to move above .500 at home with a 3-2 mark. Russell Wilson completed only 11 passes, but four of those went for touchdowns, including two scoring strikes to Jaron Brown.
Seattle’s rushing attack continued to punish the opposition by gaining 168 yards, while Bobby Wagner finished off the blowout with a 98-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Although Seattle allowed 49ers’ quarterback Nick Mullens to throw for 414 yards and two touchdowns, the Seahawks allowed 17 points or less for the fifth time this season.
Let’s Talk Totals
The Seahawks began the season cashing the UNDER in six of eight games. However, Seattle has flipped the script and turned up the offense by hitting the OVER in each of the past four. The offense has provided 27 points or more in each of the last four games, while eclipsing that total in seven of the past eight. Seattle has hit the OVER in three of the previous four games at CenturyLink Field, while allowing 24 points or more three times in this span.
Meanwhile, the opposite is happening on with the Vikes game totals. The Vikings hit the OVER in four of their first seven contests, but have finished UNDER the total in four of the last five. The Minnesota offense has been inconsistent during this stretch by failing to score 21 points or more in consecutive games, while allowing 24 points or more in losses to New England, Chicago, and New Orleans, all division leaders.
The Vikings are making their first appearance on Monday night football this season, as Minnesota won in each of their Monday matchups in 2017. Last season, the Vikings defeated the Saints in the season opener at home, while edging the Bears at Soldier Field, 20-17 as 3 ½-point favorites. Minnesota is listed as an underdog on Monday night for the first time since 2013, when the Vikings fell to the Giants, 23-7 as four-point ‘dogs.
Seattle last appeared under the Monday night lights in Week 2 at Chicago in a 24-17 setback as 4 ½-point underdogs. Since Wilson was drafted by the Seahawks in 2012, Seattle has won six of eight times in Monday action, but the two losses have come in each of the past two seasons, including a home defeat to Atlanta in 2017.
Trends to Keep an Eye on.
The Vikings are 10-0-1 ATS (7.91 ppg) since Dec 21, 2006 as a dog coming off a loss where they allowed at least 300 passing yards, which includes an underdog victory at Philadelphia in Week 5.
Also, last season, Minnesota won six of eight games away from U.S. Bank Stadium, but has stumbled to a 2-3-1 road mark this season. The only victory for the Vikings in the road underdog role came at Philadelphia in a Week 5 triumph, 23-21 as 3 ½-point ‘dogs. Minnesota has compiled a 2-2 ATS record when receiving points on the highway, while going 4-6 ATS in this role since 2016.
Chase Knox is a senior analyst for Wannamakeabet.com and provides Monday Night Football insights during the season