Minnesota Vikings vs San Francisco 49ers Picks and Predictions September 15th 2024

The 49ers are favored on the road as they face off against the Vikings at 1:00 ET on Sunday, September 15th at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The game will be televised on CBS. The 49ers’ money line odds are -267, while the Vikings are at +216. The 49ers are -6 point favorites, and the over/under line is set at 45.5 points.

San Francisco vs. Minnesota Key Information

• Teams: 49ers at Vikings
• Where: U.S. Bank Stadium Minneapolis
• Date: Sunday, September 15th
• Betting Odds SF -267 | MIN +216 O/U 45.5

The 49ers Can Win If…

Even though the Jets took an early 7-3 lead, the 49ers came back and won 32-19, improving their record to 1-0. San Francisco took a 16-7 lead at halftime and added to it in the 3rd quarter with a touchdown from Kyle Juszczyk. The 49ers capped off their win with a late 8-yard touchdown pass from Brock Purdy to Deebo Samuel.

Jake Moody had a good game for the 49ers, making four field goals, and Purdy threw three touchdown passes, including two to Deebo Samuel. The 49ers were 3.5-point favorites and covered the spread with their 13-point win. The combined 51 points went over the total line of 43.5 points.

San Francisco’s offense had a good day in their 32-19 win over the Jets, picking up 24 first downs and 180 yards on 38 rushing attempts. Despite not throwing any touchdown passes, the 49ers still managed to put up 221 yards through the air. Brock Purdy went 19/29 for 231 yards, while Jordan Mason ran for 147 yards and one touchdown, averaging 5.2 yards per carry.

Jauan Jennings was the top receiver in the game, finishing with 64 yards on five catches. The 49ers’ offense also did well on third down, converting 46.2% of their chances, but Purdy was sacked three times in the game.

In their 32-19 win over the Jets, the 49ers’ defense allowed 198 passing yards on 19 completions. The Jets finished with 266 total yards and 68 rushing yards on just 19 attempts. San Francisco’s defense defended 60% of third down attempts and came up with one interception.

The 49ers allowed two passing touchdowns and managed only one sack in the game. Despite this, the defense did a good job limiting the Jets’ ground game and held them to 3.6 yards per attempt on the ground.

• San Francisco has put together a record of 2-1 over their past three games. But, they did not perform well vs the spread in these games, going 1-2. Their over-under record in these matchups was 2-0-1.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, San Francisco has a record of 7-3. This includes going 4-6 vs. the spread along with an over-under mark of 6-3-1.

The Vikings Can Win If…

Minnesota’s defense was dominant in their 28-6 win over the Giants, holding them to just a field goal in the 1st quarter. The Vikings quickly responded with a 3-yard rushing touchdown from Aaron Jones, taking a 7-3 lead. After that, Minnesota added a touchdown in the 2nd quarter with a 44-yard touchdown pass from Sam Darnold to Justin Jefferson.

In the 3rd quarter, the Vikings put the game out of reach by adding 14 more points, including another touchdown from Darnold to Johnny Mundt. The Giants managed a field goal in the 3rd quarter, but it was far from enough as Minnesota improved to 1-0 on the season.

The Vikings’ offense put up 28 points in their 28-6 win over the Giants, with quarterback Sam Darnold throwing for 201 yards on 24 attempts. Darnold completed 79.2% of his passes, with two touchdowns and one interception. Minnesota had 17 first downs and 240 total yards, while Darnold was sacked once and the team had a 30% third-down conversion rate.

Minnesota’s ground game saw Aaron Jones rush for 94 yards on 14 attempts, including a touchdown and a 19-yard run. Justin Jefferson led the team in receiving with 59 yards and one touchdown. The Vikings’ defense held the Giants to just six points in the game.

The Vikings’ defense was dominant in their 28-6 win over the Giants, allowing just 240 total yards and coming away with five sacks. They defended the pass well, giving up only 166 yards through the air and holding the Giants to a 52.4% completion percentage. Minnesota didn’t allow a passing touchdown and intercepted two passes.

On the ground, the Vikings gave up just 74 rushing yards on 21 attempts. They also excelled on third downs, allowing the Giants to convert only 38.9% of their third down attempts. Minnesota’s defense was disruptive up front, finishing with 10 more quarterback hits than the Giants.

• Through their last three regular season contests, Minnesota has a record of 0-3. Their record vs the spread sits at 0-3 in these matchups, while posting a 2-1 over-under mark.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, Minnesota has a record of 3-7. The team’s record vs the spread was just 2-8, in addition to an over-under mark of 5-5.

The Lean

Our pick vs. the spread is to take the Vikings to cover as home underdogs in their week two matchup against the 49ers. The point spread line is sitting at -6 in favor of the Vikings, and we have them winning by a score of 20-18.

As for the over/under, with the line at 45.5 points, we are leaning towards taking the under with a projected combined score of 38 points.

Christian McCaffrey Out Again as 49ers Prepare for Vikings Showdown

Christian McCaffrey had hoped to make his season debut this Sunday, but lingering calf and Achilles injuries will keep the San Francisco 49ers star running back sidelined as they face the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis. Despite early optimism, a setback in Thursday’s practice has the 49ers considering placing McCaffrey on injured reserve, delaying his return even further.

Jordan Mason Shines in McCaffrey’s Absence

With McCaffrey out last week, Jordan Mason made the most of his opportunity. The second-year back rushed for 147 yards on 28 carries, including a touchdown, in the 49ers’ 32-19 victory over the New York Jets. Mason’s ability to step in and deliver a strong performance will be key as San Francisco looks to keep its momentum going against the Vikings.

Vikings Aim to Spoil 49ers’ Momentum

The Minnesota Vikings (1-0) are also riding high after a dominant 28-6 win over the New York Giants in their season opener. Quarterback Sam Darnold, who previously played for the 49ers, led the Vikings with 208 passing yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in his debut as Minnesota’s starter.

Darnold now faces his former team, looking to build on his strong debut.

Quarterback Showdown: Darnold vs. Purdy

Both quarterbacks come into Sunday’s game with solid Week 1 performances. For the 49ers, Brock Purdy showed his trademark consistency, completing 19 of 29 passes for 231 yards in the win against the Jets. Purdy’s steady play continues to be a critical part of the 49ers’ success.

Sam Darnold, meanwhile, gave the Vikings an efficient performance in their opener, but now faces a familiar defense that will test his decision-making and accuracy.

Defensive Battle Expected

Both defenses are coming off strong performances, setting the stage for a defensive battle in Minneapolis. The 49ers held the Jets to just 266 total yards, with Leonard Floyd recording a key sack and the unit limiting quarterback Aaron Rodgers to just 167 passing yards.

Minnesota’s defense, led by new defensive coordinator Brian Flores, was equally impressive in their win over the Giants. Andrew Van Ginkel returned an interception for a touchdown, and the Vikings sacked Giants quarterback Daniel Jones five times. Patrick Jones II led the charge with two sacks, and the unit will aim to put similar pressure on Brock Purdy.

Injury Concerns for Both Teams

49ers Injuries:

• Christian McCaffrey (calf/Achilles): Out
• Talanoa Hufanga (knee): Doubtful
• Dee Winters (ankle): Questionable

Vikings Injuries:

• Jordan Addison (ankle): Out
• Harrison Smith (hip), Brian O’Neill (elbow), Ed Ingram (triceps): Questionable

Key Storylines to Watch

Jordan Mason’s Continued Emergence:

Mason has shown he can handle the workload in McCaffrey’s absence. Can he continue to deliver against a tough Vikings defense?

Sam Darnold vs. His Former Team:

Darnold spent last season with the 49ers before finding a new home in Minnesota. Will his familiarity with San Francisco’s system help him, or will the 49ers’ defense hold the upper hand?

Defensive Dominance:

Both teams have strong defenses coming off impressive performances. The team that wins the defensive battle could be the one that walks away victorious.

What’s at Stake

Both the 49ers and the Vikings are looking to continue their strong starts to the season. The 49ers will rely on Jordan Mason in McCaffrey’s absence, while Minnesota hopes Sam Darnold can maintain his efficiency against his former team. With two tough defenses facing off, Sunday’s game could come down to which team makes the fewest mistakes.