Docs Website

53 Years Strong! A Trusted Leader In Sports Picks, Best Bets and Predictions Since 1971.

Main Menu

Vikings vs. Seahawks Picks for Monday Night Football with Odds and Predictions


by Alan Matthews - 11/27/2019

Minnesota Vikings Quarterback Kirk Cousins

That's it for me this season recommending backing either Los Angeles football team in a prime-time game! The Chargers burned me two weeks in a row and the Rams embarrassed me and themselves in a 45-6 hope wipeout Monday night against the Lamar Jacksons (Baltimore Ravens). It was the Rams' worst-ever loss at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and it could have easily been 62-6 had the Ravens not sat Jackson for the fourth quarter. I thought the Rams would play with some desperation and that their good defensive line would make Jackson mortal. Thus, I took Rams +3.5 and under the total of 46.5. Obviously, that was a double loss from a betting perspective. Sigh.

This week, it's another NFC West club as the MNF host as the Seattle Seahawks welcome the Minnesota Vikings in what could be a playoff preview. Seattle is 9-2 yet enters Week 13 a game behind the 49ers in the division - although the Seahawks currently hold the tiebreaker and appear to have the schedule edge the rest of the way. San Francisco is an underdog this Sunday in Baltimore, will be an underdog next Sunday in New Orleans and probably a dog Week 17 in Seattle. The Hawks close at the Rams, at the Panthers and home to the Cardinals before that Niners showdown. If the playoffs started today, Seattle would be the top Wild-Card team and visit 6-5 Dallas simply as the Cowboys lead the NFC East.

Minnesota (8-3) is tied with Green Bay for the NFC North lead but loses that tiebreaker for now thanks to a Week 2 loss at Lambeau. Those teams play again in Minneapolis in Week 16 in the final MNF game of the season. Minnesota also hosts Detroit, visits the Chargers and hosts the Bears. Three teams currently with losing records. The Vikings would visit the Packers in the Wild-Card round were the playoffs today.

Seattle is +165 to win the West and the Vikings +115 in the North at Bovada. The odds of Monday's winner will get a bit shorter.

 

Vikings at Seahawks Betting Story Lines

Was a bit surprised the Seahawks won last Sunday in a 10 a.m. Pacific time start at desperate Philadelphia even with Seattle coming out of its bye. Really didn't expect that when star Hawks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney sat out due to injury, yet Seattle still forced five Eagles turnovers in a 17-9 victory. Carson Wentz was picked off twice and lost two fumbles.

MVP candidate Russell Wilson (that award is going to the Ravens' Jackson now) was just meh, completing 13 of 25 for 200 yards with a touchdown and pick. The team got a huge boost from 2018 first-round pick Rashaad Penny, who had been trending toward bust status and not playing much behind Chris Carson. However, Carson's fumble troubles returned and Penny capitalized on the opportunity by rushing for a career-high 129 yards along with a TD on 14 carries. Pete Carroll said Penny will get more touches going forward. Sounds like there's a good chance Clowney will return.

Minnesota comes off its bye week having won two straight and six of seven. Kirk Cousins is definitely playing the best football of his career. He leads the NFL with a passer rating of 114.8 with Wilson second at 112.1. Cousins threw three second-half touchdown passes in Week 11 as Minnesota rallied from down 20-0 at the half to beat the visiting Broncos 27-23 in a clear trap game. NFL teams up at least 20 at the half had won 97 straight games.

A huge part of Cousins' improvement is that tailback Dalvin Cook is having a breakout season with 1,017 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns. Defenses have to respect him, so the Vikings are thriving out of play action. Cousins leads the NFL with 11 touchdowns and zero interceptions on play action. Cousins should get back top receiver Adam Thielen from a hamstring injury on Monday. He has barely played (or hasn't) the past month or so.

Minnesota is one of five teams with a Top-10 unit in both scoring offense and scoring defense in the NFL.

 

Vikings at Seahawks Betting Odds and Trends

At 5Dimes, Seattle is a 2.5-point favorite (-130) with a total of 49. On the moneyline, the Seahawks are -155 and the Vikings +135. On the alternate lines, Seattle is -3.5 (+120), -3 (-105) and -2 (-135). Minnesota is 3-3 against the spread on the road and 3-3 "over/under." Seattle is 1-4 ATS at home and 3-2 O/U.

The Vikings are 5-1 ATS in their past six following an ATS loss. They are 2-8 ATS in their previous 10 following a bye and 2-10 in their past 12 on Monday. The Seahawks are 10-4-1 ATS in their past 15 on Monday but 3-9-1 ATS in their past 13 at home vs. teams with a winning road record. The under is 7-1 in Minnesota's previous eight in December. It's 7-3 in Seattle's last 10 on Monday. The home team is 5-1 ATS in the past six meetings. The over is 5-1 in the previous six in Seattle.

Vikings at Seahawks Betting Prediction

The Vikings have lost five straight games to the Seahawks, including the postseason. Minnesota's offense has averaged 12.6 points per game during the losing streak. The Vikes lost in Seattle 21-7 on a Monday night in Week 14 last year. Neither offense did much, with Wilson throwing for only 72 yards.

This looks to be another defensive battle (chilly weather will add to that), and I still trust Wilson more than Cousins in a big game. Seattle very rarely loses home prime-time games in the Carroll era (just two in 20 tries). Seattle wins something like 24-21, so give the 2.5 points and go under the total. Fairly shocked the number is that high.

Want free NFL picks? Doc's has you covered. New clients can take advantage of this great offer of $60 in free Doc's Sports members' picks for any handicapper on Doc's Expert Handicapper list. Just check out these guys' pages and see what great work they have done making money for themselves and their clients over the years. Get $60 worth of premium members' picks free . Get free NFL picks weekly on Doc's Sports free football picks page.

Most Recent Monday Night Football Picks

One E-mail A Week Is All You Need!
Our weekly newsletter is loaded with exclusive free picks,insight and advice from our expert handicappers