Buccaneers vs Vikings Picks and Prediction – 9/10/2023
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Sunday to play the Minnesota Vikings in the opening game of the NFL regular season for both teams. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will start Baker Mayfield at quarterback, who beat out Kyle Trask for the starting job, Sunday versus Minnesota. Rachaad White, who was second for Tampa Bay in rushing last season with 481 yards and one touchdown, will start at running back, while the top receivers for Mayfield will be Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Trey Palmer. Keep up with the NFL, with our NFL picks.
Tampa Bay's defense is a 3-4 led up front by nose tackle Vita Vea and ends Calijah Kancey and Logan Hall. Kancey is listed as questionable for Sunday. The linebacker corps is strong inside with Devin White and Lavonte David, while the secondary has a pair of excellent safeties in Ryan Neal and Antoine Winfield Jr. Last season Tampa Bay's defense allowed an average of 21.1 points and 324.3 yards per game.
The Minnesota Vikings lost each of their three games of the preseason and will have several new faces on offense in 2023. Kirk Cousins will once again be under center for Minnesota and last year the quarterback threw for 4,547 yards with 29 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Minnesota no longer has running back Dalvin Cook and the new starter is Alexander Mattison, who last season rushed for 283 yards and five touchdowns. The leading receivers are Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and K.J. Osborn.
Minnesota's defense was its weak link last season as the Vikings allowed an average of 25.1 points and 388.7 yards per game. Both of those stats were in the bottom three of the NFL. Minnesota will be led on defense by linebackers Danielle Hunter, Brian Asamoah II, Jordan Hicks and Marcus Davenport. The secondary remains suspect and will be led by safeties Harrison Smith and Camryn Bynum.
Buccaneers vs Vikings Prediction
Buccaneers vs Vikings Pick Analysis
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Minnesota's offense is likely to be more of a passing attack than running game as Dalvin Cook is no longer with the Vikings at running back and Minnesota has one of the best wide receivers in the game in Justin Jefferson. Baker Mayfield starts under center for Tampa Bay and will look to take advantage of a weak Vikings defense. Therefore, the play here is OVER. The OVER has cashed in seven of Minnesota's last eight and each of the Vikings last five at home. Final Score Prediction, Minnesota Vikings win but our best play is OVER 31-23.