Football. Is. Back.
Sure, it may just be the preseason. But it’s been so long, it’s a joy just to have football back in our lives to dissect, watch, and love.
The Minnesota Vikings enter 2023 fresh off a 13-4 performance that earned them first place in the 2022 NFC North Division.
They’ll look to get the wheels turning in Game 1 of the preseason against the Seattle Seahawks, who went 9-8 a year ago.
Preseason NFL odds are very arbitrary, but this spread really doesn’t make a ton of sense. Read on for my best bet and full NFL preseason picks and predictions for Vikings vs. Seahawks on Thursday, August 10.
Vikings vs Seahawks odds
Vikings vs Seahawks predictions
Both of these teams came up short in the Wild Card round a year ago and are looking to take the next step in 2023.
The Minnesota Vikings didn’t appear very interested in last year’s preseason festivities, finishing with an 0-3 record. They lost by six points against the Las Vegas Raiders in the opener and then followed that up with back-to-back 10-point defeats.
Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins did not see the field in any of those three games, so it’s safe to say he won’t exhaust much — if any — energy on Thursday night. Kevin O’Connell hasn’t publicly stated what his intentions are for the starters, but we shouldn’t expect to see many of them.
What we do know is that first-round rookie wide receiver Jordan Addison will be making his highly-anticipated debut. Throwing to him will likely be a combination of veteran Nick Mullens and rookie Jaren Hall, a promising youngster from BYU.
I believe this actually gives Minnesota fans some reason for optimism for the passing attack heading into Thursday. Mullens is much more experienced than some signal callers who see the field during the preseason and has been productive in his career, throwing for over 5,000 yards while averaging 7.8 yards per attempt. Hall is a mobile, quick decision-maker whose game should translate well to the style of play we see in the preseason.
The backfield also appears decently stocked with solid depth including XFL star Abram Smith and rookie DeWayne McBride. Smith dominated the XFL and should be eager to prove something in the preseason, while McBride possesses immense talent as a pure runner and will look to stake his claim for playing time this year.
Minnesota had some issues defensively last season, especially in the secondary. All eyes will be on Brian Flores’ new defensive scheme as the Vikings are expected to be much more aggressive on that side of the ball this season, so we might see a few blitzes and pressures thrown in early in this game.
O’Connell emphasized a more physical approach in camp this season, operating in full pads in some cases instead of the glorified walkthroughs the team went through in last year’s camp. That should have them ready to fire in the first game of the preseason.
I also expect Minnesota to be better prepared as the roster appears relatively healthy compared to the Seattle Seahawks.
The Seahawks have experienced a rash of injuries in camp with running backs Kenneth Walker III, Zach Charbonnet, Kenny McIntosh, and DeeJay Dallas all missing time at one point or another. On the defensive side, linebacker Jordyn Brooks and safety Jamal Adams remain on the PUP list.
I’m never in a hurry to lay points in the preseason but I don’t believe the -4.5 on Seattle is justified considering there are actually a fair amount of positives pointing toward the visiting side.
When in doubt, lay the points in preseason play. I think there’s enough reason for doubt that I’ll grab the points with the Vikings.
My best bet: Vikings +4.5 (-110 at bet365)
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