This is who national experts predict will win Vikings-49ers divisional playoff game
Vikings fans are hoping to hear Kirk Cousins say those three magic words on Saturday:
You like that?!?!
Since his days with Washington, that has been Cousins’ catch phrase. Last Sunday, he said it to teammates following an overtime win against the Saints in New Orleans.
The Vikings’ task won’t get easier as they face the 49ers in San Francisco on Saturday at 3:35 p.m.
Forty-three experts from around the nation made predictions for Saturday’s game. Here are the picks and what they’re saying about the game, which will be broadcast on NBC (Ch. 41):
Six of the eight CBS Sports experts predicted a 49ers victory: Ryan Wilson, Jason La Canfora, Dave Richard, Jared Dubin, Jamey Eisenberg and Will Brinson. Pete Prisco and John Breech see Minnesota winning. Prisco predicted the Vikings will prevail 20-16. Here is part of what wrote: “The Minnesota defense came up big against the Saints and should have success slowing the 49ers. But the San Francisco defense is special. Dare I say it: I still think Kirk Cousins and Dalvin Cook get the best of it on this day. Upset special.”
Mike Florio and Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk were split. Smith sees the 49ers winning 28-10. This is part of what he wrote: “The Vikings put on an impressive performance in New Orleans, winning a game that few thought they could. The 49ers, however, have been the best team in the NFC all season, and there’s little reason to believe that will change in the playoffs.” Florio predicted a 27-24 Vikings overtime win. He wrote: “Thirty-two years ago, Anthony Carter and the Vikings shocked the 49ers in San Francisco, six days after shocking the Saints in New Orleans. One year earlier, the Vikings stole a regular-season game in San Francisco with a 27-24 overtime win.”
A 30-27 Vikings win is the prediction from Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com. This is part of what he wrote: “The Vikings are not your average No. 6 seed. On pure talent, they are the second-best NFC team left (behind the 49ers) and have the fourth-best roster in the playoffs, after you also factor in the top two seeds in the AFC. They boast a singular amount of continuity on defense, with eight of their defensive starters having played at least five seasons together under Mike Zimmer. They can throw a lot of different looks at an offense with their top three safeties. That experience and talent allows them to adjust their plans weekly in the playoffs, like they did when they dominated the base Saints offense for three quarters. They are strongest in situational football, ranking second in red-zone defense and posting a +12 in turnover margin. The offensive brain trust of Kevin Stefanski and Gary Kubiak is savvy, while the health of Dalvin Cook and Adam Thielen together makes the top-heavy offense unlike the group we saw for much of the year. (Though the Vikings now have to monitor a bad ankle cut Thielen suffered in practice on Wednesday.)”
The seven experts from USA Today all picked the 49ers: Jarrett Bell (23-20 final score), Nate Davis (30-24), Jori Epstein (27-23), Mike Jones (32-27), Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz (24-19), Lorenzo Reyes (24-21) and Tom Schad (19-17).
Seven of eight SB Nation writers are picking the 49ers: Christian D’Andrea, Sarah Hardy, Morgan Moriarty, Geoff Schwartz, Adam Stites, Stephen White and James Brady. Eric Thompson went with Minnesota.
Nate Burleson of “Good Morning Football” believes the Vikings will pull another upset:
Each of the nine at ESPN have San Francisco prevailing: Matt Bowen, Mike Clay, Mike Golic, Jason Reid, Trey Wingo, Mina Kimes, Seth Wickersham, Dan Graziano and Kevin Seifert.
San Francisco will win 27-20 says Tadd Haislop of the Sporting News. This is a snippet of what he wrote: “In New Orleans, Minnesota’s stingy defense was able to focus on Michael Thomas containment and take advantage of the Saints’ critical mistakes. In San Francisco, though, Mike Zimmer’s crew will have their hands full against a more diverse, complete attack. With a trio of talented running backs, the NFL’s best tight end in George Kittle, a deep receiving corps led by breakout star Deebo Samuel and a smooth, savvy distributor in quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, the 49ers are slightly more loaded than an impressive (and notably healthy) Vikings team.”
All eight Pro Football Focus experts picked the 49ers: Neil Hornsby, Bruce Gradkowski, Jeff Ratcliffe, Solomon Wilcots, Sam Monson, Nathan Jahnke, Austin Gayle and Steve Palazzolo.
Four of the six Sports Illustrated Monday Morning Quarterback writers picked the 49ers: Kayln Kahler, Andrew Brandt, Bette Marston and Jenny Vrentas. The pick for the Vikings came from Mitch Goldich and Connor Orr.
This story was originally published January 11, 2020 at 7:43 AM.
