I’m sure your Saturday “to-do list” features the usual tasks. Groceries. Laundry. Vacuuming.
I don’t think anyone’s list would have had “Bet on Nick Mullens vs. Jake Browning” before the Minnesota Vikings and Cincinnati Bengals lost their respective star quarterbacks.
But here we are.
The Bengals play host to the Vikings today in a matinee — the first of three games on the day — and bookies have installed Cincinnati as a short home favorite.
The crazy thing is, despite these teams being down to their backup QBs, both sides are still somehow in the postseason mix.
I dive into the NFL odds for this non-conference clash and give my best NFL picks and predictions for Vikings at Bengals on Saturday, December 16.
Also make sure to check out our Vikings vs. Bengals prop picks and Ja’Marr Chase spotlight!
Vikings vs Bengals odds
Vikings vs Bengals predictions
The Minnesota Vikings aren’t the only team with starting skill players showing up on the injury report.
The Cincinnati Bengals enter Week 15 with question marks around Ja’Marr Chase and Tyler Boyd, who were limited in practice Wednesday and have a short week to get right due to Saturday’s schedule.
That leaves Tee Higgins as the top option, should those WRs sit out or be slowed by injury.
Higgins is playing in just his third game back after missing time due to a hamstring injury and he’s trying to build a better report with Browning after a total of only seven targets in the last two games.
Higgins made the most of those looks, however, snatching two of four targets in last week’s win over the Colts, one for 46 yards and the other for 26 yards. That effort topped his prop total of 40.5 receiving yards last weekend.
His receiving yard total for Week 15 has been bouncing around with the unknown status of Cincy’s other pass-catching options but has climbed to 39.5 yards O/U.
Player projections for Higgins are ranging but all sit north of this total. Some models call for 50-plus yards through the air with the ceiling at 64.4 yards. My number comes out to just beyond 52 yards – and that’s before any adjustments to who will or will not be out in Week 15.
Minnesota will throw a ton of blitzes at Jake Browning and try to disrupt his rhythm. But, even though it is a small sample size, the Bengals’ backup has not been rattled easily. Browning averages 9.1 yards per completion when blitzed along with three touchdown passes.
Considering his Week 15 forecast and the possibility of Higgins jumping up the depth chart to WR1 or WR2 with Chase and Boyd banged up, he could knock this 39.5-yard total out with just a couple of catches.
My best bet: Tee Higgins Over 39.5 receiving yards (-114 at FanDuel)Picks made at time of writing may not reflect live odds.
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Vikings vs Bengals same-game parlay
Tee Higgins Over 39.5 receiving yardsJoe Mixon anytime TDJake Browning Under 240.5 passing yards
+812 at FanDuel
Higgins’ projections are very positive and there’s a high ceiling if Chase and Boyd are out or slowed.
Joe Mixon has been a monster on the ground and through the air. He’s scored in six of his last seven games.
Browning will feel the heat from an aggressive Vikings defense and that could have him hurrying or handing off. Most projections sit below the 240.5-yard total.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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