As Week 3 of the NFL season nears, one of the highlights of the week will indeed be the contest between the visiting Minnesota Vikings and the still-undefeated Houston Texans. Both sides are at a 2-0 record ahead of this contest hence the stakes are even higher this Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium. The match will be shown live on TV, particularly CBS at 1:00 PM ET. This game is therefore highly sought after for its abnormality as it showcases the battling spirit and the tactics of both teams at the very beginning of the season which makes it ideal for paid predictions that may alter the situation of things betwise.
Houston Texans vs. Minnesota Vikings 9/22/24 Game Info |
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| When: | Sunday, September 22, 2024, at 1:00 PM ET |
| Where: | U.S. Bank Stadium |
| TV: | CBS |
| Stream: | NFL Game Pass |
Houston Texans (2-0) vs. Minnesota Vikings (2-0)
The Houston Texans proved that their season is well on track because of their great rushing and nice receiving core. In their previous encounter with the Chicago Bears, which they won by the way with a score of 19-13, it was Tank Dell who at least proved he is capable on the ground even if the attempts were limited since he has to be used more to expand the offensive strategies of the Texans. However, one player has stepped up in the receiving category, as Nico Collins has been productive with 2 games being 252 yards. This has been an important part of Houston’s game as he has been able to turn those receptions into yards.
On the other hand, the Minnesota Vikings walked away from their above-mediocre season by defeating the San Francisco 49ers 23-17 and have managed to balance out their offense nicely. Especially, Aaron Jones has made an important contribution averaging 63 yards rushing while gaining 5.5 yards per carry for the Vikings with a solid back up. Justin Jefferson has also been good and has been able to use his receptions to gain a lot of yards and score important touchdowns. This is the reason why the Minnesota Viking offense has been very effective as it provides two threats rather than one as witnessed by this defense.
C.J. Stroud QB vs. Sam Darnold QB
C.J. Stroud has begun the season calmly and skillfully so far, recording a 69.1% successful completion rate and an impressive 104.7 passer rating for the first two encounters. It should be noted that the young quarterback remains calm under duress and has not yet thrown any interceptions this season. The only blemish on Stroud’s record, however, is the number of sacks that he has endured, which points to weaknesses that he might have to more mobile defensive fronts.
Interestingly, Sam Darnold has impressed with a slightly higher passer rating of 111.8 and an even better completion percentage of 72%. Darnold has been relatively effective in passing the ball with an average of 9.5 yards thrown per attempt which has its advantages and its disadvantages against Houston’s defensive schemes. Though he did have two interceptions, Darnold’s ability to throw the ball and connect on big plays was quite valuable.
The match will ultimately depend a lot on both of these quarterbacks who are up against each other on this day. There is a need for Stroud to try and solve the problem of getting sacked while Darnold’s risk is his willingness to throw the ball with little caution. They will need to interact with each other on the pitch because both are capable of taking advantage of the other’s small weaknesses.
NFL Odds/Point Spread: Houston Texans -4 (-120), Total Odds: 47
The current betting landscape sees the Texans as favorites with a -4 point spread, which aligns with their solid start to the season but doesn’t fully account for the Vikings’ ability to leverage their home advantage and strong offensive tools. The total over/under at 47 suggests expectations of a high-scoring game, which seems plausible given the offensive weapons at both teams’ disposal.
Houston Texans Betting Trends
The Texans have a mixed bag of betting trends. They are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games, indicating strong overall performances. However, their record against the Vikings is less encouraging, with 0-5 ATS and SU in their last five encounters. This historical struggle could play a mental factor, despite their current form.
Minnesota Vikings Betting Trends
The Vikings, while less dominant in their recent overall performances (3-6 SU in their last 9 games), have held a strong betting edge at home against Houston. Their 3-9 ATS record at home, however, shows some inconsistency that could be worrying against a team like the Texans that has started the season with momentum.
Houston Texans vs. Minnesota Vikings 9/22/24 Betting Picks
From all points of view, it is going to be a closely-fought duel. Both the Texans powerfully arrived on the scene while the Vikings were wise in how they played players such as Jefferson and Jones to leave this as a difficult one. In any case, the historical edge and home advantage may sway it just enough in the Vikings’ direction, especially considering both teams should be able to put a lot of points on the board with the over likely to hit.
As for those who are interested in props or Top NFL Free Picks, it may be worth looking at Jones rushing yards and Collins receiving yards. All in all, backing the Vikings to cover and even win the game outright looks the better bet in what promises to be an entertaining slog.