How the Vikings' Week 1 matchup vs. Buccaneers is being perceived by oddsmakers
The Minnesota Vikings enter the 2023 season with high hopes, but plenty of question marks. The Vikings, who are coming off an impressive 13-win season in 2022, open the season with a favorable matchup that caters to certain expectations. A Week 1 date with the rebuilding Tampa Bay Buccaneers awaits Minnesota to kick off the […]
The Minnesota Vikings enter the 2023 season with high hopes, but plenty of question marks. The Vikings, who are coming off an impressive 13-win season in 2022, open the season with a favorable matchup that caters to certain expectations.
A Week 1 date with the rebuilding Tampa Bay Buccaneers awaits Minnesota to kick off the upcoming season. While Minnesota has seen a couple of talented players leave over the offseason, most notably Adam Thielen and Za’Darius Smith, the loss of Tom Brady looms large in Tampa.
After all, even with the greatest quarterback of all time the Bucs offense finished 31st in scoring just a season ago. How much it will improve with Baker Mayfield remains to be seen, but certainly shouldn’t inspire a ton of confidence.
The oddsmakers in Las Vegas see it that way as well. Minnesota opens up as a lofty 6.5-point favorite over Tampa Bay, per BetMGM. Whether they are able to cover the number or not probably won’t matter to Vikings fans so long as they walk away victorious.
Interestingly enough, the Vikings are the laying the third-most points of any team in Week 1. The Chiefs (-7) against the Lions and Ravens (-9.5) at home against the Texans are the only two teams who are favored by more points.
Minnesota has been afforded the opportunity to get the season off on the right foot with a matchup against one of the weakest teams in the NFL. With that being said, crazier things have happened in this league. Although the Vikings are heavy favorites, they’ll have 60 minutes to prove the oddsmakers right when Sept. 10 rolls around.
