Vikings vs. Giants Predictions, Picks & Odds: NFL Week 1, Sunday 9/8

If you’re in search of an NFL Week 1 matchup that features an epic QB battle, the one in East Rutherford, New Jersey may not be for you. The Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants are two NFC teams that would love to finally solidify that position with confidence, and that all starts with a clash against one another.
That has us poised for one of the most interesting matchups of the slate, which is why we’ve shared our best Vikings vs. Giants predictions. Not only that, but we’ll also provide you with the details regarding a generous $1,500 BetMGM Sportsbook promo and how to grab it using any Vikings vs. Giants picks!
Vikings vs. Giants Predictions for NFL Week 1, Sunday, 9/8
The Vikings and Giants are two NFC squads that finished with similar records last season, which were both multiple games below .500. Truthfully, it’s difficult to expect many fireworks in this matchup, especially with New York suffering one of the biggest offseason losses.
That was RB Saquon Barkley going to the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles, and although he’s had nagging injuries, he’s among the best backs in the NFL. The Giants also lost backup RB Matt Breida, WR Sterling Shepard and DL A’Shawn Robinson, so it’s tough to be optimistic ahead of Week 1.
Of course, it’s all about QB Daniel Jones returning from his torn ACL. We’ll touch more on that in just a bit, but the Giants aren’t the only ones focused on the QB. The same can be said for the Vikings, although perhaps not in the way they had imagined.
Minnesota Vikings: Starting The Sam Darnold Era
After former Minnesota QB Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles tendon last season, the season went downhill, as superstar WR Justin Jefferson didn’t have a reliable thrower in his direction. Cousins went south to Atlanta and joined the Falcons, which is why the Vikes selected QB JJ McCarthy with the #10 overall pick in the most recent NFL Draft.
All reports were that he was developing well until every fan’s biggest preseason fear happened - a significant injury. McCarthy’s knee injury was a bit of an unknown for a few days, but ultimately, the torn meniscus forced season-ending surgery.
So, Minnesota now turns to QB Sam Darnold, who is now on his fourth team in the past five years. He’ll have an elite target in Jefferson, but it still flipped the Vikings’ plan of attack on its head.
New York Giants: Proving Daniel Jones Doubters Wrong
Keeping the theme of QBs going, the Giants had to decide if they were going to take someone like McCarthy in the NFL Draft or put their faith in Jones. They have been steadfast in their commitment to the former North Carolina Tar Heel, but fans have grown restless.
He has shown moments of his high ceiling, but whether it’s injuries or the talent around him, there have been just as many moments of fans asking, “why?” Regardless, the team decided not to draft a QB and stick with Jones, so his recovery from the ACL tear seems as though it will be career-defining.
We also recently learned that head coach Brian Daboll will also be calling plays this season, which creates even more of an unknown ahead of Week 1.
Vikings vs. Giants Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines
Now that we’ve seen the significant emphasis of both teams, let’s check out the latest Vikings vs. Giants odds at BetMGM Sportsbook so that we can share our favorite play from our Vikings vs. Giants predictions:
- Point Spread: Minnesota Vikings -1.5 (-110) vs. New York Giants +1.5 (-110)
- Money Line: Minnesota Vikings (-120) vs. New York Giants (+100)
- Game Total (Over/Under): Over 41 (-110) vs. Under 41 (-110)
Vikings vs. Giants Point Spread: Minnesota Money Line (-120 at BetMGM Sportsbook)
With such a tight point spread, we’re going to go just a bit safer and even more basic by focusing our Vikings vs. Giants predictions on the straight money line. Getting burned by a one-point game simply isn’t worth the difference in price with BetMGM’s favorable odds.
Even if you’d prefer the point spread, we expect the Vikings to grab this season-opening win. They were even more significantly favored when McCarthy was healthy and expected to start. While expectations may be high for him, he still has yet to take an NFL snap, so having this become a closer matchup only provides more value in our view.
Not only is it difficult to trust Jones until he proves otherwise, but multiple knee injuries also add up, and he won’t have his security blanket next to him. The loss of Barkley is nothing short of massive, and not having Shepard on the outside may prove to be more significant than many fans would anticipate.
The complete opposite end of the spectrum is the Vikings now having a former division-rival RB with Aaron Jones coming over from the Green Bay Packers. He’s a true dual threat who should help Darnold feel comfortable under center. Therefore, we’re making the best bet from our Vikings vs. Giants predictions on Minnesota’s money line (-120 at BetMGM Sportsbook).
Vikings vs. Giants Injury Report & Latest News
To round out our Vikings vs. Giants predictions, and before getting into your $1,500 sign up offer, we have the latest injury update for both teams below:
MIN Vikings:
- Jordan Addison (Questionable)
- Jalen Nailor (Questionable)
NY Giants:
- Dane Belton (Questionable)
- Drew Lock (Questionable)
- Micah McFadden (Questionable)
- Gunner Olszewski (Questionable)
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Player News
Dolphins signed No. 13 overall pick DT Kenneth Grant to a four-year contract.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that Grant will sign his contract today. The former Michigan defensive tackle is expected to fill a major void left by Christian Wilkins, who left for the Raiders in the 2024 offseason. Grant totaled 32 tackles, three sacks, and seven TFLs in his final season at Michigan and excelled at stopping the run while also generating 27 pressures in his final season, per PFF.
Beat reporter John Hendrix reports that free agent WR Donovan Peoples-Jones is among the 16 players that the Saints will host for their rookie minicamp.
Peoples-Jones last played regular season snaps with the Lions back in 2023, when he caught 13-of-24 targets for 155 yards. He is highly unlikely to return to fantasy relevance at this point but could perhaps sign on as a special teams contributor.
Titans signed fourth-round pick WR Elic Ayomanor to a four-year contract.
Ayomanor will now begin learning behind Calvin Ridley. Although Ayomanor is unlikely to find a meaningful role in year one, dynasty managers should note his status as training camp gets underway this summer. The former Stanford receiver flashed big-play ability in his two college seasons.
Buccaneers signed seventh-round pick WR Tez Johnson to a four-year contract.
Johnson will serve as a rotational deep-threat option for Baker Mayfield. His thin frame (5'10/154) simply does not lend itself to the repeated hits one incurs in a full-time role. Johnson did earn 100-plus targets in his two seasons at Oregon, though. His big-play style make him a better fit in best ball for now, pending any major on-field breakthroughs.
Giants waived DT Casey Rogers.
Rogers was a 2024 undrafted free agent and logged 33 defensive snaps for the Giants in his rookie season. He is credited with zero tackles and/or sacks. He may find his way onto another roster as a practice squad option.
Vikings signed third-round pick WR Tai Felton to a four-year contract.
Felton is quietly in play to challenge Vikings No. 3 WR Jalen Nailor in training camp. Nailor (5'11/190) caught 28-of-42 targets for 414 yards and six touchdowns in his first season as a starter last year, with the latter category buoying his fantasy productivity. Felton (6'1/183), meanwhile, caught 96-of-143 targets for 1,119 yards and nine touchdowns while averaging 2.32 yards per route run in his final college season. Fantasy managers should monitor Felton’s training camp reports this summer, as he could have a matchup-based WR5 role if everything falls into place.