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Two new eras begin Saturday as the Vikings head to MetLife Stadium to face the Giants in their preseason opener.
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It’s John Harbaugh’s official debut as head coach in New York, while Minnesota showcases newly named starting QB Kyler Murray. My Vikings vs. Giants predictions and NFL picks favor Murray to outshine the home team and lead the Vikings to a win
Minnesota is currently favored by 2.5 points for the 1 p.m. ET kickoff on ESPN
Vikings vs Giants predictions
Vikings moneyline | 54% |
Over 41.5 | 50% |
Percentages courtesy of Kalshi, one of the bestprediction market apps
TOP PICK
Who will win Vikings vs Giants: Vikings moneyline
Kalshi probability: 54%
With the Baltimore Ravens, Harbaugh boasted one of the NFL’s best preseason records at 48-16, and 41-22-1 against the spread. However, he didn’t play his starters much. Lamar Jackson played a total of 123 preseason snaps in seven seasons under Harbaugh. He refused to say who would play on Saturday, but the New York Giants head coach indicated he’s “hardly played any starters” in recent years.
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Meanwhile, the Minnesota Vikings will likely get a look at Kyler Murray, who was named the starter earlier this week. He said he’d play with “some starters” in New York. If anything, J.J. McCarthy, who lost the starting battle, will be the one to get very limited snaps. That means another veteran, Carson Wentz, will probably get the bulk of the time against Giants rookies
TOP PICKVikings vs Giants Over/Under pick: Over 41.5
Kalshi probability: 50%
The Giants put together a top-five rushing offense last season and averaged more than 20 points per game. The Over also hit during eight of New York’s last 10 games of the season
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The Giants face a position battle at backup center, so New York will have motivated blockers up the middle for most of the game. One of the few comments Harbaugh made about playing is that returning former star Odell Beckham Jr. will get plenty of it. The sideline boss said he wanted to play Beckham the entire game, although Harbaugh then hedged a bit.
Minnesota trots out a deep stable of quarterbacks, running backs, and receivers, but the team faces a decided lack of depth at pass-rusher. That all adds up to more points than in your standard preseason opener
Vikings vs Giants live odds
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Vikings vs Giants weather
It’s expected to be 80-82 degrees at kickoff with a slight chance of rain
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How to watch Vikings vs Giants
Location | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ |
Date | Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026 |
Kickoff | 1 p.m. ET |
TV | NFL |
Vikings vs Giants latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.Not intended for use in MA.Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links
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