San Francisco 49ers at Minnesota Vikings Week 1 NFL Picks & Predictions 9/9/2018

Sunday, September 9, 2018

U.S. Bank Stadium

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The San Francisco 49ers travel to U.S. Bank Stadium to take on the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, September 9, 2018. The opening line for this game has Minnesota as 5 point favorites. The over/under has been set at 46.5. The 49ers had an ATS record of 9-7-0 last season while their over/under record was 8-8-0. The Vikings had an over/under record of 9-9-0 and they were 11-7-0 against the spread.

Valuable San Francisco 49ers Betting Trends

The San Francisco 49ers were 8-8-0 against the over/under last season

The San Francisco 49ers were 9-7-0 against the spread last year

Important Minnesota Vikings Betting Trends

The Minnesota Vikings were 9-9-0 against the over/under last season

The Minnesota Vikings were 11-7-0 against the spread last year

Key San Francisco 49ers Injuries

08/31/18 RB Jerick McKinnon Calf is questionable Sunday vs Minnesota
08/20/18 RB Joe Williams Ribs is out indefinitely
08/11/18 TE George Kittle Shoulder is upgraded to probable Sunday vs Minnesota
08/11/18 RB Matt Breida Shoulder is upgraded to probable Sunday vs Minnesota
08/10/18 LB Malcolm Smith Hamstring is questionable Sunday vs Minnesota
08/03/18 DL Arik Armstead Hamstring is questionable Sunday vs Minnesota
08/03/18 WR Victor Bolden Jr. Suspension 4- game suspension (elgible to return 10/7 vs Arizona)
07/03/18 LB Reuben Foster Suspension 2-game suspension (eligible to return 9/23 vs Kansas City)

Key Minnesota Vikings Injuries

08/31/18 WR Adam Thielen Ankle is probable Sunday vs San Francisco
08/31/18 CB Mackensie Alexander Ankle is questionable Sunday vs San Francisco
08/31/18 T Mike Remmers Ankle is probable Sunday vs San Francisco
08/10/18 C Nick Easton Neck IR
08/03/18 LB Kentrell Brothers Suspension 4- game suspension (elgible to return 10/7 vs Philadelphia)
08/03/18 C Pat Elflein Ankle PUP

Useful Offensive Statistics

The San Francisco 49ers were 20th in the NFL in points scored with 331 last season. They ran 1,058 plays last year for 5,589 yards, which ranked them 12th in the league in total offense. The 49ers averaged 5.3 yards per play, which was 16th in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 321 1st downs last year, placing them 11th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground San Francisco ran for 1,664 yards as a team, which ranked 21st in the NFL. They ran 408 times last year, averaging 4.1 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The 49ers were penalized on offense 123 times for 988 yards last season, which had them 4th in the league in penalties. Jimmy Garoppolo threw for 1,560 yards last season. He completed 120 passes on 178 attempts for a completion percentage of 67.4%. His quarterback rating last year was 96.2. He averaged 8.8 yards per pass attempt and 13 yards per completion.

Defensive Statistics

San Francisco was 25th in the league in points allowed on defense with 383 last year. They surrendered a total of 5,625 yards on D, which was 24th in the NFL. The 49ers were ranked 20th in yards per play allowed with 5.3. Their pass defense gave up 6.6 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 26th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 344 passes on 544 attempts against the San Francisco 49ers defense last season, placing them 19th and 13th in the National Football League. The San Francisco pass defense also gave up a total of 3,764 yards through the air, which was 22nd overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense allowed 491 attempts for 1,861 yards last year, putting them in 22nd place in the league against the run. The 49ers committed 97 penalties for 791 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 1st in the NFL. They gave up a score on 37.8% of possessions on defense, which was 27th in the league.

Special Teams Stats

San Francisco was ranked 17th in the league in punt returns last season with 34. They accumulated 304 punt return yards and averaged 8.9 yards per return, which was 13th in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 39 yards. They returned 31 kicks for 570 yards on special teams, ranking 27th in kick return yardage. The 49ers averaged 18.4 yards per kick return and had a long of 34 yards last year. They were 12th in the league in all-purpose yards with 6,773. The San Francisco 49ers attempted 41 field goals last season and made 39, which was 3rd in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 95.1%. San Francisco 49ers kickers made 97% of their extra points, going 28 for 29 last year. Their punters totaled 3,255 yards on 75 punts, averaging 43.4 yards per punt. That placed them 28th in the NFL in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Minnesota Vikings ran for 1,957 yards as a unit last year, which ranked 7th in the league. They ran 501 times, averaging 3.9 yards per rush as a unit. The Vikings were penalized on offense 100 times for 949 yards last season, which had them 22nd in the NFL in penalties. They were 10th in the National Football League in points scored with 382. They ran 1,055 plays last year for 5,710 yards, which ranked them 11th in the NFL in total offense. The Vikings averaged 5.4 yards per play, which was 13th in the league. As a team they accumulated a total of 334 1st downs last season, ranking them 6th overall as an offensive unit. Kirk Cousins completed 347 throws while attempting 540 passes for a completion percentage of 64.3% last year. He passed for 4,093 yards. He averaged 11.8 yards per completion and 7.6 yards per pass attempt. His quarterback rating last season was 93.9.

Defensive Statistics

The Vikings rush defense gave up 364 attempts for 1,337 yards last season, putting them in 2nd place in the NFL against the run. They had 105 penalties for 928 yards on defense last year. That placed them 20th in the league. They allowed a score on 27.9% of possessions on defense, which was 3rd in the NFL. Minnesota was 1st in the NFL in points surrendered on defense with 252. They gave up a total of 4,415 yards on D, which was 1st in the league. The Vikings were 2nd in yards per play allowed with 4.6. Their pass defense allowed 5.2 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 2nd in the National Football League. Opponent offenses completed 324 throws on 555 attempts against the Minnesota defense last season, ranking them 7th and 19th in the league. The Minnesota Vikings pass defense also surrendered a total of 3,078 yards in the air, which was 2nd overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Minnesota Vikings tried 38 field goals last season and made 32, which was 9th in the league. Their kickers had a FG percentage of 84.2%. Minnesota kickers made 87% of their extra points, going 34 for 39 last season. Their punters accumulated 2,995 yards on 71 punts, averaging 42.2 yards per punt. That ranked them 32nd in the NFL in punting average. Minnesota was 6th in the NFL in punt returns with 39 last year. They totaled 372 punt return yards and averaged 9.5 yards per return, which was 7th in the league. Their longest punt return last season was 46 yards. They returned 25 kicks for 619 yards on special teams, placing them 21st in kick return yardage. The Vikings averaged 24.8 yards per kick return and had a long of 39 yards last season. They were 8th in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 6,877.

Who will win tonight's 49ers/Vikings NFL game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take the 49ers +5

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