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Ravens vs. Vikings Prediction, Picks & Best Bets: NFL Preseason Week 2 Odds

Our Ravens vs. Vikings prediction breaks down why Minnesota should get the better of the hosts this afternoon.

Matt MacKay

Last updated: August 22, 2026 8:51 AM EDT • 2 min read

Pictured: Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy tosses the ball to a teammate as we make our best Ravens vs. Vikings prediction. Photo by USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

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The Baltimore Ravens take on the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday afternoon during one of the most highly anticipated Week 2 NFL preseason matchups. My Ravens vs. Vikings prediction includes backing J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and the home favorite Vikings, along with a point total.

Kickoff is at 1 p.m. ET from U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, with the Vikings are lined as a -3.5 point home betting favorite. You can catch the game on ESPN Unlimited.

🏈 Ravens vs. Vikings prediction: NFL preseason Week 2

See the latest NFL odds and our experts' NFL picks for every game this season.

💰 Pick	⚖️ Units	🧠 Why I bet this
Vikings Moneyline (-158 via FanDuel)	1u → 0.63u	The Vikings have more QB depth and a talented defense under DC Brian Flores.
Under 36.5 (-105 via DraftKings)	1u → 0.95u	Each defense held its Week 1 opponent to 10 or fewer points.

Total wagered: 2 units | Max profit: 1.58 units

💰 Ravens vs. Vikings best bet

Under 36.5 (-105)

Jesse Minter has taken over as the new head coach of the Baltimore Ravens. His background as a defensive coordinator with the Chargers showed up during their Week 1 win, holding the Eagles to 7 points.

J.J. McCarthy didn't exactly wow against the Giants in Week 1, finishing 4-for-7 for 34 yards and zero touchdowns. Meanwhile, Brian Flores' Vikings held the Giants to 70 total rushing yards, while forcing a pair of interceptions.

This game feels like it could be a tough, physical battle with touchdowns at a premium. It's why I'm betting the best price on Under 36.5 at -105 odds on DraftKings.

Score prediction: Vikings 20, Ravens 16

🚀 Ravens vs. Vikings same-game parlay

Let's parlay Under 36.5 with the Vikings moneyline for our SGP. Minnesota's Carson Wentz carried them in Week 1, going 9-14-81-1. Ravens' rookie QB, Joe Fagnano, will have a tougher assignment against Flores' defensive scheme this week, so it's unlikely he records another 224-yard outing through the air.

💵 Ravens vs. Vikings SGP picks

Vikings Moneyline
Under 36.5

Best odds: +212 via FanDuel (0.5u → 1.06u)

💡 How I'm betting Ravens vs. Vikings: NFL preseason strategy

Follow all of our NFL analysis and betting advice for the 2026 NFL season.

While it's exciting to have NFL back, preseason can be tricky to navigate due to unknown coaching strategies that impact player reps. I'm still deploying 1 unit on each wager in today's Ravens vs. Vikings game.

Under 36.5 is set to return 0.95 units if it wins, as my best bet. The Vikings moneyline is hauling in just 0.63 units due to its juiced line at -158 odds.

📊 Ravens vs. Vikings odds: NFL preseason Week 2

Our live Ravens vs. Vikings odds update in real time.

🚑 Ravens vs. Vikings latest injuries

📺 How to watch Ravens vs. Vikings: NFL preseason Week 2

Date: Saturday, Aug. 22
Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET
Location: U.S. Bank Stadium (Minneapolis)
Streaming: ESPN Unlimited

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Written By:
Matt MacKay

Matt MacKay has handicapped golf, the NFL, NCAAF, and NHL since joining the sports betting industry as a writer in 2020. He’s worked for several prominent sites, recently expanding his coverage to include sports betting news and the regulatory industry. Bringing a background in communications and writing, earning a Masters Degree in Organizational Communication from Ohio University, Matt has co-hosted a fantasy football and sports betting podcast, while continuously refining his handicapping methods. This includes identifying recent trends, head-to-head statistics, and comparing individual and team strengths and weaknesses to accurately predict the outcome in certain betting markets before a game or event. He’s a daily bettor and tends to wager on FanDuel, with DraftKings and Hard Rock Bet as preferred sports betting app alternatives. An avid researcher, writer, editor, and podcaster, Matt is eager to dig into matchups to offer readers and subscribers value on his picks. He’s a big proponent of building bankroll by avoiding poor betting habits and tendencies, like chasing losses, placing too many wagers, and managing bankroll. His worst beats to date both came on two separate NFL parlays, losing due to Tyreek Hill and A.J. Brown dropping passes. NRFIs have quickly become one of Matt’s favorite betting markets, recently diving into MLB game props.