NFL betting tips: Minnesota Vikings vs San Francisco 49ers predictions & odds

Minnesota Vikings vs San Francisco 49ers betting tips

• Brock Purdy over 1.5 passing touchdowns - 20/21 with Bet365
• San Francisco 49ers -6.5 - 10/11 with BetUK
• Christian McCaffrey first touchdown scorer - 17/4 with BetMGM

The San Francisco 49ers (5-1) suffered their first defeat of the season when narrowly beaten by the Cleveland Browns in Week 6, but UK bookmakers have priced them to bounce back against the Minnesota Vikings (2-4) at the US Bank Stadium tonight.

The defeat against the Browns was a surprise, and the 49ers were below their usual swashbuckling best, seemingly wilting in awful conditions. 

Kyle Shanahan and his team will be desperate to leave that form behind and have a great chance to respond against the Vikings, who will be without their star wideout Justin Jefferson due to injury.

Here are our predictions for the game between the NFC sides.

Purdy to respond to poor outing

The 49ers had an off-day against the Browns, none so more than quarterback Brock Purdy.

He could only manage a pretty unimpressive 12 completed passes from 27 attempts last week amid injuries to Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey. That was not the same player seen in week five when he threw for four touchdowns against the Dallas Cowboys.

The best betting sites offer prices on the number of touchdown throws, and the 20/21 offered by bet365 for Purdy to throw over 1.5 is not to be sniffed at. 

Including the Dallas game, he has come up trumps on three occasions this term and rarely threw for less in his breakthrough season in 2022.

Purdy, who has poise, great vision and accuracy, will not be dwelling on his performance against the Browns, and we are backing him to come out with his A game against a defence that could be exposed by the 49ers' quality.

Tip: Brock Purdy to throw over 1.5 touchdown passes - 20/21 bet365

49ers to expose Vikings defensive unit

With a big bounce-back expected from the 49ers, the UK bookmakers are giving the Vikings a 6.5-point start. That margin looks like an achievable target for Purdy and his team to aim at, and they could build a comfortable lead in the first half of the game.

The 49ers will be missing the services of the injured Samuel, but they have plenty of depth in their ranks, and there should be multiple options for Purdy to nail his throws. 

Wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings can get open downfield and will be obvious targets.

Running back McCaffrey, who celebrated his first anniversary at the franchise on Friday, is expected to be given the all-clear to start the game, and it is becoming an ever-rare occasion where he fails to get his name on the scoreboard.

Tight end George Kittle has three touchdowns to his name this season, and he is another vital link in the 49ers offence for Purdy to target.

The Vikings' defence is decent enough, but if they are to hold the 49ers at bay tonight, they cannot afford the slightest slip-up. 

Add the fact that the 49ers defence is proving one of the toughest to get through and it all starts to add up to a comfortable San Francisco success.

Tip: San Francisco 49ers -6.5 - 10/11 BetUK

McCaffrey the call for the first touchdown

There is a slight question mark over the participation of McCaffrey in this matchup, but the latest news would suggest that he is more likely to start than not.

He has been in tremendous form this season, running in for seven touchdowns, and recording another couple receiving scores.

McCaffrey can make things look easy and has a touchdown to his credit in every game this season, three of them to open the scoring. 

BetMGM have marked McCaffrey up at 17/4 to be the first touchdown scorer, which we’re backing with our final bet.

Tip: Christian McCaffrey to score the first touchdown in the match - 17/4 BetMGM