Falcons vs. Vikings Prediction, Sunday Night Football Odds & SNF Picks

The Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings square off on Sunday Night Football, and my Falcons vs. Vikings prediction expects a close game featuring inexperienced signal-callers. 

The Vikings are the 3.5-point betting favorite, and the game takes place at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC). 

As part of the NFL picks below, I've also featured a Justin Jefferson prop, expecting him to continue his productivity at home. The picks complement the rest of our NFL predictions for Week 2. 

🏈 Falcons vs. Vikings prediction for Sunday Night Football

NFL expert picks based on the latest Sunday Night Football odds; subject to change.

• Moneyline pick: Vikings (-170 via Caesars) ⭐⭐⭐
• Against the spread pick: Falcons +3.5 (-115 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐
• Over/Under pick: Under 44.5 (-110 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐

📝 Sunday Night Football preview & best bet

Track the latest NFL scores for line movement and matchup info.

🪶 Falcons +3.5 (-115) ⭐⭐⭐

I was on the verge of jumping the fence to the Vikings' side after the spread decreased from +5.5 to +3.5. But I've stayed true to my picks against the spread as there's not much to choose between these teams led by inexperienced quarterbacks.

Yes, Vikings' QB J.J. McCarthy set records for a signal-caller in his debut, and he ranked among the most clutch QBs in Week 1. 

However, much of that success was thanks to the Chicago Bears' implosion on both sides of the ball. I cannot discount McCarthy's first-half struggles so flippantly. I find it impossible to imagine his adaptation to life in the NFL consists of just one half of football. 

Additionally, his fiancee gave birth to their boy just days before the game. After the emotional high of winning his NFL debut, the life-altering event could further galvanize him. However, he's still only 22 years old, so it could have a contrasting impact. 

Where this bet will be won or lost, though, depends largely on how Falcons' QB Michael Penix Jr. deals with the Vikings' pressure. The Falcons had the eighth-best pass-block grade (PFF) last season and finished 13th in Week 1. Meanwhile, Penix handled pressure well in Week 1, unlike last season, finishing 9-for-13 and 128 yards with a touchdown pass when blitzed. Not having linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, out after entering concussion protocol, in his face will also help. 

Overall, the Falcons deserved better in Week 1 against a solid Tampa Bay Buccaneers team.

If Penix and his offensive line handle the increased pressure Brian Flores will almost surely deploy, the Falcons should keep this one within a field goal. Most of the best sports betting sites offer -115, which will yield an $8.70 profit on a winning $10 bet. 

💰 Best Falcons vs. Vikings player prop bet for Sunday Night Football

Our NFL player prop odds tool shows the best odds for every market across legal sportsbooks in your area.

⬆️ Justin Jefferson Over 72.5 receiving yards (-114) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

It will take time for McCarthy and Justin Jefferson to build chemistry, but the tandem started to gel more seamlessly at Soldier Field in the second half last week. Jefferson finished with 44 receiving yards and four catches. 

McCarthy now gets his first crack at home field in the perfect environment which U.S. Bank Stadium provides.

It's where Jefferson plays his best football, evidenced by amassing at least 73 receiving yards in all eight home games last season, including a 132-yard performance against these very Falcons. 

Of course, those games were with Sam Darnold at the helm. Still, McCarthy will want to rely on Jefferson heavily during his acclimation process, and Jefferson rarely disappoints on home turf. FanDuel offers the lowest total of our best sports betting apps, while bet365 and DraftKings offer 75.5-yard totals at -110 and -115, respectively. 

I'm more confident with the lower total and will take the slightly longer odds than DraftKings' -110.

📊 Falcons vs. Vikings odds: SNF

NFL odds update live in real time.

📈 Falcons vs. Vikings opening odds

• Moneyline: Falcons +200 | Vikings -235
• Spread: Falcons +4.5 (-110) | Vikings -4.5 (-110)
• Over/Under: Over 45.5 (-110) | Under 45.5 (-110)

🔍 Falcons vs. Vikings odds analysis

On Tuesday, you could get the Falcons at +5.5. They're now down to the 3.5-point betting underdog, with the key number of 3 still in play. The total decreased from 45.5 to 44.5. 

🔢 Falcons vs. Vikings stats

Season stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference.

🚑 Falcons vs. Vikings injury report

📺 How to watch Sunday Night Football

• When: Sunday, Sept. 14
• Kickoff: 8:20 p.m. ET
• Where: U.S. Bank Stadium (Minneapolis)
• How to watch: NBC

❓ Sunday Night Football FAQs

Who plays on Sunday Night Football?

The Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings square off on Sunday Night Football. 

When is Sunday Night Football?

SNF starts at 8:20 p.m. ET from U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. 

Who is favored to win Sunday Night Football?

The Vikings are the 3.5-point betting favorite. 

How do NFL odds work?

When betting on NFL odds, the point spread shows how many points the favorite needs to win by in order to cash the bet. For example, a favorite of -3 must win by more than 3 points to cover the spread, while an underdog at +3 must win outright or lose by fewer than 3 points to cover the spread.

Moneyline odds represent the payout for picking the outright winner (+200 means a $100 bet wins $200, while -200 means a $200 bet wins $100). Over/Unders let you wager on whether the combined total will be higher or lower than the set number.

You can determine the payouts and implied probabilities for any wager - or convert odds to different formats - with our odds converter.

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