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NFL Week 15: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Minnesota Vikings betting picks, preview
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning (6). Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY NETWORK

NFL Week 15: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Minnesota Vikings betting picks, preview

The NFL is hooking us up with a three-pack of games this Saturday, which gives us a great chance to build up our bankroll for the Sunday slate. Let's start with a few picks for the early game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Minnesota Vikings.

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Minnesota Vikings betting odds, preview

Spread: Bengals -3, Over/under: 40.5, Moneyline: Bengals -170 | Vikings +142

This would be a marquee matchup of the week if both teams still had their starting quarterbacks, but Joe Burrow and Kirk Cousins have been ruled out for the season. Instead, it will be Jake Browning going up against Nick Mullins. 

Joshua Dobbs joined the Vikings in a trade and started the last four games, but he threw four interceptions against the Chicago Bears and scored no points against the Las Vegas Raiders in back-to-back weeks. Head coach Kevin O'Connell made the decision to bench Dobbs in favor of Mullins after those two duds. Luckily for Mullins, he'll have Justin Jefferson back in the lineup this week.

As for Browning, he's led the Bengals to two straight wins and exceeded expectations along the way. The rookie is 50-61 for 629 yards, three touchdowns and one interception over the last two weeks, and he's added two rushing touchdowns in that span. Cincinnati is back in playoff contention thanks to Browning, but it needs to win this week to keep pace in the AFC wild-card race. 

Bengals vs. Vikings betting picks

Vikings +3 (-102 DraftKings)

Over their last two games, the Bengals have upset the Jacksonville Jaguars as 10-point underdogs and crushed the Indianapolis Colts as short favorites. The market has adjusted by making Cincinnati a full three-point favorite against an equally talented, better-coached team. We'll gladly take the 'dog here.

Brian Flores is going to blitz Browning all game and make him uncomfortable, which should lead to some dangerous decisions down the field. As long as Mullins protects the football, he should be able to put up points with Jefferson as his downfield threat and T.J. Hockenson as his safety valve. 

Jake Browning over 0.5 interceptions (-110 DK)

This price should be juiced way more than it is. Browning has thrown two interceptions over his last three appearances, and now he's going up against the most blitz-happy defense in the NFL. Minnesota is going to force Browning to make quick decisions and throw the ball up for grabs a few times. The Vikings have 10 interceptions in 13 games this year, and we think they add another one to that total in Week 15. 


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Jack Dougherty

Jack Dougherty has been writing professionally since 2015, contributing to publications such as GoPSUSports. com, Centre Daily Times, Associated Press, and Sportscasting. com

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