The Minnesota Vikings and the New York Giants meet Saturday in NFL preseason action from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. Here’s a Giants vs Vikings prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Giants vs Vikings pick.
Minnesota Vikings Betting Preview
Last year the Vikings didn’t get close to their nice 14-3 run from 2024, eventually finishing 9-8 overall. Minnesota limped to a 4-8 start through their first 12 games, their worst mark since going 3-8-1 back in 2013. Changes at QB and an ineffective offense led to the regression, which sent the Vikings into third place in the NFC North and out of a playoff spot.
Minnesota moves on from general manager Kwesi Adolfo-Mensah this season, as he was let go after the disappointment of 2025. In his place is Nolan Teasley, who will join head coach Kevin O’Connell in his fifth year. The duo will spearhead efforts to return to the playoffs, and they’ll have a pretty solid-looking quarterback corps to start with. In addition to JJ McCarthy, Minnesota adds Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz to the mix. Justin Jefferson figures to be a popular target no matter who is under center.
New York Giants Betting Preview
On the Giants’ side, their ugly 2025 campaign would have gotten a bit more attention had it not been for the even-worse performance of fellow New Yorkers the Jets. The Giants finished at just 4-13 overall, which, oddly enough, was better than the abysmal 3-14 run from 2024. Despite all of their struggles, New York beat the rival Eagles (Week 6) and Cowboys (Week 18) as part of their quartet of wins. Needless to say, the Giants missed the playoffs for the third straight year and the 14th time in the last 17 seasons.
Looking ahead to 2026, New York gets a new head coach in veteran John Harbaugh, who comes in after 18 years with the Baltimore Ravens. He’ll have a lot of youth to work with, much of it with a pretty high ceiling. Second-year QB Jaxon Dart is back alongside rookies Arvell Reese and Francis Mauigoa. The team will be looking to bounce back from the ugly four-win 2025, and optimistic takes have the team (at least) flirting with a winning record this year.
Why the Minnesota Vikings will win
- The Vikings have won each of their last six September games as home underdogs against NFC opponents.
- The Vikings have covered the spread in each of their last seven September games as home underdogs.
- The Vikings have won the first quarter in four of their last five games as home underdogs.
- The Vikings have scored the first touchdown in each of their last six Week 1 home games.
- The Vikings have won the first half in each of their last seven September games as home underdogs.
Total Points Facts
- Each of the Vikings’ last six home games without Carson Wentz have gone UNDER the total points line.
Minnesota Vikings Player Prop Facts
- Aaron Jones has scored two or more touchdowns in three of his last four September home appearances against NFC North opponents.
- Carson Wentz has recorded 251+ passing yards in each of his six previous Week 1 appearances.
- Carson Wentz has recorded 15+ rushing yards in each of his last 11 appearances with his team as a home underdog.
- Justin Jefferson has scored a touchdown in each of the Vikings’ last four September games as home underdogs.
- Justin Jefferson has recorded 75+ rushing and receiving yards in each of the Vikings’ last six September home games.
- T.J. Hockenson has recorded 35+ receiving yards in each of his last seven home appearances against NFC North opponents.
- Carson Wentz has recorded 25+ completions in eight of his last nine appearances with his team as a home underdog against NFC opponents.
- Will Reichard ranked T1st in the NFL in 50+ yard field goals made (11) last season.
Matchup/League Facts
- Vikings – two different players recorded 80+ rushing yards in a game last season – equal-most in the NFL.
- Vikings – five different players recorded 2.0 sacks or more in a game last season – equal-most in the NFL.
Why the New York Giants will win
- The Giants have won each of their last four games as underdogs without Jason Pinnock.
- The Giants have covered the spread in each of their last four games as underdogs without Darius Slayton.
- The Giants have scored the first touchdown in six of their last eight games as home underdogs.
Total Points Facts
- Each of the Giants’ last 12 home openers have gone UNDER the total points line.
New York Giants Player Prop Facts
- Cameron Skattebo has scored at least one touchdown in each of his last three appearances.
- Jameis Winston has recorded 247+ passing yards in each of his three previous appearances against the Cowboys.
- Tyrone Tracy has recorded 62+ rushing yards in each of the Giants’ last seven Sunday games.
- Calvin Austin has recorded 20+ rushing and receiving yards in each of his last six appearances on the East Coast.
- Calvin Austin has recorded 13+ receiving yards in each of his last six September appearances.
- Jaxson Dart has recorded 19+ completions in five of his last six Sunday appearances.
- Tremaine Edmunds recorded the equal-most interceptions in a single game last season (2 vs Cowboys, Week 3).
Matchup/League Facts
- Giants – two different players recorded 80+ rushing yards in a game last season – equal-most in the NFL.
- Giants – two different players recorded 90+ rushing yards in a game last season – equal-most in the NFL.
Giants vs Vikings Prediction
I’ll lean toward the Vikings, but preseason games are always a coin flip. In any case, Minnesota has added some veteran presence in key positions this season, most notably among the quarterbacks. The team will have plenty of options throughout the year, and if they’ve got to make a change at some point, the learning curve shouldn’t be too steep out there on the field. Minnesota really needs to hit the ground running when the regular season starts, as the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears are looming early on the schedule. Finding some chemistry in the preseason will be crucial.
As for the Giants, most people are leaning toward a big improvement in 2026—and to be fair, it would be difficult to get much worse. Harbaugh should be able to instill a more disciplined culture quickly, and if the offensive line plays as well as it looks on paper, the team will flourish on the scoreboard. If nothing else, it’ll be an interesting season.