Minnesota Vikings vs. Cincinnati Bengals best bets for Week 1

What are the best bets to make on the Week 1 matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and Cincinnati Bengals?

Thanks to failing to win any of their three preseason games this summer, there is plenty of uncertainty surrounding the Minnesota Vikings heading into their 2021 regular-season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

With only six total wins in the last two years, however, the Bengals aren’t exactly the toughest opponent on Minnesota’s schedule this season. But Cincinnati is also not a team the Vikings should be taking lightly either since they’ve got the talent to get a win this weekend as well.

Minnesota starting a season on the road is always disappointing. But the last time they opened their schedule with a game inside their opponent’s stadium was back in 2016 and it resulted in a win for the Vikings. Will the outcome be the same for Minnesota on Sunday against the Bengals?

Best Minnesota Vikings bets for Week 1

Bet No. 1

• Kirk Cousins under 21.5 completions (+104)

This weekend will be the fourth Week 1 contest with Kirk Cousins starting under center for the Vikings. Minnesota is 2-1 in their first three season-openers with Cousins as their starter, with all three matchups taking place inside U.S. Bank Stadium.

In each of these three games, the Vikings quarterback never completed more than 20 passes. In fact, six of Minnesota’s first eight matchups last season saw Cousins finish with fewer than 20 completions.

Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer is still going to want his offense to establish the run with Dalvin Cook, so Cousins’ Week 1 trend of completing 20 passes or less will probably continue on Sunday.

Bet No. 2

• Adam Thielen over 0.5 touchdown catches (+150)

Last season, Minnesota receiver Adam Thielen hauled in career-high 14 touchdown catches. Thielen found the end zone at least once in 10 of the Vikings’ 16 games last year.

He’s become a favorite target of Cousins during the last few seasons, and in 2020, he emerged as a dangerous threat in the red zone. Of his 14 touchdown catches last season, 13 of them came when Minnesota ran a play in the red zone.

It’s a little surprising that the odds are actually favoring Thielen to end Sunday without a touchdown, especially since he’s hauled in a pass in the end zone in each of the Vikings’ last two regular-season openers. But, oh well, this just seems like an easy way to make a nice chunk of change.

Want to capitalize on the best bets for Week 1? Make your pick now on WynnBET.