Titans vs Vikings Preseason Picks and Predictions: Hot Start for Minnesota Leads to Early Triumph

The Tennessee Titans and Minnesota Vikings will kick off their second preseason game of 2023 on Saturday night at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

The Titans tried to get some more clarity on their backup quarterback situation last week and didn't exactly succeed in doing so. Meanwhile, the Vikings got off to a hot start last week before getting dominated in the second half by Seattle.

I break it all down and give my best NFL picks and predictions for the Titans vs. Vikings below. 

Titans vs Vikings odds

Titans vs Vikings predictions

Last week, the Tennessee Titans were looking to get equal playing time for both Malik Willis and Will Levis. The two quarterbacks rotated every third series, but neither performed well and each threw a pick.

The hope was to use this week to gain a little more clarity.

Unfortunately, Levis got injured in practice and was unable to complete Day 2 of the joint practices with the Vikings. Coach Mike Vrabel was unsure if Levis would be able to play in this game and was also not clear if that meant Willis would play the full game or if Ryan Tannehill would start. This is not ideal for bettors.

Wide receiver Treylon Burks was also injured in practice and will miss a few weeks, and there is no chance we will see WR DeAndre Hopkins or star running back Derrick Henry in the preseason. 

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Vikings got a great game last week from QB Nick Mullens, who played five series and went 14/20 passing for 139 yards and a touchdown. Rookie wideout Jordan Addison also looked fantastic, making an incredible sideline catch that was incorrectly ruled out of bounds. Minnesota led the first half by a score of 10-7 before switching to the third stringers in the second half. 

We will likely see a little bit more of Addison in this game as he continues to solidify his starting spot alongside Justin Jefferson. Trishton Jackson will also get a lot of looks on Saturday as he practiced more with the first team, so I like the Vikings to get off to another hot start this week.

If you are looking for a best bet, then look no further than the first half moneyline. The Titans are surprisingly favored in the first half and I love getting plus money on the Vikings. The Minnesota starters in this game are much better than what Tennessee is throwing out, so I expect the Vikings to pull ahead early. 

My best bet: Vikings first half moneyline (+115 at DraftKings)

Titans vs Vikings spread and Over/Under analysis

The second half will get a little shaky for the Vikings on both ends. Minnesota has little depth on defense and struggled last week, allowing 24 points in the final 34:16 of game time. On offense, Jaren Hall only completed 6/14 passing attempts and was sacked twice. The run game also dropped off significantly. 

Meanwhile, the Titans will still be playing the same quarterback(s) regardless of whether Levis plays or not. With a full game spread of only 2.5 points, the Titans won't need to outscore the Vikings by too much in the second half in order to cover.

The total is much harder to predict, as the Vikings game last week finished at 37 points and the Titans game accumulated 40 points. This game is currently set at a total of 37.5 points. 

However, I would lean towards the Over here, especially if the Titans play Willis the entire game. Despite early struggles, Tennessee should put up points late and Minnesota will garner enough points early on to cash this bet.

Titans vs Vikings betting trend to know

Minnesota has led at halftime in two of its last three preseason games. Find more NFL betting trends for Titans vs. Vikings.

Titans vs Vikings game info

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