Minnesota Vikings (6-6) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5)
Minnesota Vikings visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. Here’s our complete guide to Vikings Buccaneers Bet Tips.
All odds and lines from PointsBet, current as of Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Vikings Buccaneers Bet Tips
Vikings Buccaneers Odds and Betting Lines
- Against The Spread: Buccaneers -6.5 (-115)/Vikings +6.5 (-105)
- Moneyline: Buccaneers (-301)/Vikings (+235)
- Total: 51.5 — Over 51.5 (-110)/Under 51.5 (-110)
- Implied Team Totals: Buccaneers 29, Vikings 22.5
The Vikings are red hot, winners of five of their past six games, and right back in the NFC Wild Card Race. To stay there, they will look to knock off the Buccaneers on the road, another team fighting for their postseason lives. The Buccaneers are 1-3 in their past four games and losers of two straight, after opening the season 6-2.
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Vikings Buccaneers Key Injuries
Vikings
Vikings TE Irv Smith Jr. has missed three of his past four games with a groin injury, including two straight. In his absence, sturdy veteran Kyle Rudolph has held down the fort.
While he has not scored since Week 3, Rudolph has seen 5+ targets, 4+ receptions, and 63+ yards in two of his past four games. All season-highs. Consequentially, Smith was out for both of those games.
Buccaneers
Buccaneers WR Chirs Godwin has once again remerged on the injury report. On Tuesday, he underwent a procedure to have pins removed from his previously broken finger. He did not practice on Tuesday as a result. Godwin could also remain out for limited at practice throughout the week. His playing status should be monitored leading up to game time.
If Godwin is out or limited, Scotty Miller could see an expanded target-share for the first time since Antonio Brown has been eligible to play. Miller has had fewer than three targets in each of his past three games.
Vikings Buccaneers Players to Watch
The Vikings’ offense has been hot, but they will run into an angry Buccaneers defense on Sunday looking to turn their season around. While on paper, Tampa Bay’s defense is amongst one of the best in the NFL, but they have been gashed of late.
However, if the Buccaneers defense has a weakness, it is defending the pass, one of the things the Vikings’ offense does really well. With Adam Thielen and stud rookie Justin Jefferson both contributing in a big way, the Kirk Cousins-led Minnesota passing attack can hang points on the best of them, especially if they can establish the run with Dalvin Cook, one of the best backs in the NFL.
In the past month of play since Week 10, Thielen and Jefferson have combined for 69 targets, 47 receptions, 653 yards, and 10 touchdowns in seven games — Thielen missed one game in that period due to being placed on the COVID list (Week 12).
Thielen and Jefferson are expected to draw cornerback matchups with Carlton Davis and Sean Murphy-Bunting respectively. Those corners will have their hands full on Sunday, especially Davis, whose been torched in each poof his past two games.
Buccaneers WR Antonio Brown has been a non-factor since joining the Buccaneers. In fact, they have lost three of the four games he’s been active. Perhaps, Tom Brady is forcing the ball to Brown too much. Brown has received 29 targets, catching 20 of them for 168 yards and no scores.
If Brown is still that elite player — it seems like he has lost a step — he must play like it to give the Buccaneers a shot at the playoffs. If not, Brady must recognize that and begin making better choices with the football.
In Tampa’s most recent three losses in their past four games, Brady has thrown seven interceptions. 12 giveaways total on the year. The Buccaneers’ defense has not helped their cause, but Brady is putting them in bad spots with his turnovers, much like how they fared with Jameis Winston in 2019, only at a much-lesser rate in terms of giveaways.
Vikings Buccaneers Weather Report
The weather at Raymond James Stadium calls for a clear and sunny afternoon at the time of kickoff with a 3% chance of precipitation.
The temperature is forecast at 76 degrees Fahrenheit with 5 mph winds blowing SouthWest.
Vikings Buccaneers Bet Tips
BEST BET: Over 51.5 (-110)
We know one thing, both the Vikings and Buccaneers can score the football at will. And while the Buccaneers’ defense is allowing the 11th fewest points per game (23.3), they were a top-end unit earlier in the year. They have regressed, especially containing the pass, which bodes well for the Over as Minnesota’s passing offense is playing sensational.
On the other side, the Buccaneers’ offense has struggled at times, but the Vikings’ defense is one of the poorest units in the NFL, allowing the seventh-most PPG (27.4) in the league.
The Over is 5-3 in the Vikings’ past eight games but 2-2 in their past four.
The Over is 4-2 in the Buccaneers’ past six games and 2-1 in their past three.
The Over is 7-1 in Buccaneers’ past eight games as a home favorite.
The Over is 3-2 in the past five meetings between these two clubs.
CONSIDER: Vikings +6.5 (-105)
Both the Vikings and Buccaneers are fighting for their playoffs lives. Neither team can realistically catch-up to the first-place teams in their respective divisions, barring a catastrophic collapse from the Saints and Packers. You can make the case that the winner of this game will decide the postseason fates for both clubs in case they are both tied at the conclusion of the year.
Despite how either team opened the season — the Buccaneers were one of the best teams while the Vikings were one of the worst — these clubs have been trending in opposite directions in the second half of the year. Shockingly, they are separated by one game in the win-loss column.
The winner of this game will be deiced by the defense. While I do expect a high-scoring affair, usually in those types of matchups, a turnover or a momentum-shifting sack will decide the outcome, which is why I favor Tampa Bay at home. Their defense, while struggling of-late, is hands down superior to the Vikings’ unit.
Tampa Bay will slightly cover the spread. Try to grab the game at (-6.5) as the Buccaneers should pull the win out by seven-points.
The Buccaneers have covered the spread in four of their past seven games, but 2-3 in their past five.
The Vikings are 6-4 against the spread in their past 10 games, failing to cover in each of their past three.
The Buccaneers are 3-2 ATS in their past five meetings with the Vikings, failing to cover in each of their past two.
PASS: Vikings (+235)
This is another game in which I smell an upset special. If you’re feeling froggy, the Vikings Moneyline is not a wasted wager.
The Buccaneers have lost three of their past four games straight up while the Vikings are 5-1 in their past six.
While the Buccaneers are the better club on paper, they seemed to have lost their way since Antonio Brown has seen significant playing time in the past month. Still, Tampa Bay should win the game, but it is not a lock by any means.
Anthony Cervino is 41-35-1 on his NFL Best Bets in 2020.
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