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NFL Expert Picks: Toss Up Between Vikings and Colts

The Vikings are 0-1 as they get ready to head to Indianapolis, where the 0-1 Colts await.

Both teams fell short in Week 1 and will look to get back to .500 early in the season.

Minnesota is 0-3 all-time in Indianapolis and has only played inside Lucas Oil Stadium once (2012).

View game action images between matchups of the Vikings and Colts through the years.

Let's see who the experts are picking to win the game:

Colts 34, Vikings 27 — Gregg Rosenthal, NFL.com

The Colts averaged the second-most yards per drive in Week 1, and this matchup sets up well for them. The Vikings total lack of an interior D-line presence in the opener was even more alarming than the young secondary's struggles. That's bad news coming into a matchup against one of the NFL's best offensive lines, with rookie Jonathan Taylor positioned to rip a few big runs up the seams. Indy's defense hasn't played well in a long time — going back to last season, in fact — but this Colts offense is better positioned to win a shootout.

Colts 30, Vikings 21 — Pete Prisco, CBS Sports

You hate to say a Week 2 game is a must-win, but this might be for these two. They can't afford to go 0-2 with both losing last week. The Minnesota defense was awful, and I think that will carry over. Philip Rivers gets the Colts offense going as they win their first game.

Vikings 23, Colts 19 — Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News

Lost in these teams' upset losses in Week 1 was the fact that Kirk Cousins rebounded to play very well after a slow start while Philip Rivers, despite higher pass volume and better running support, carried his shakiness from the Chargers. Minnesota's defense is better than the one that got gashed all-around by Green Bay, while Indianapolis remains inconsistent, in the middle of the pack. The Vikings are better positioned to win with a run-heavy, efficient passing game plan with Dalvin Cook and Cousins than the Colts are with their young backs and Rivers.

Vikings 20, Colts 17 — Michael David Smith, Pro Football Talk

These two teams were both major disappointments in Week 1. I like the Vikings to bounce back with a road upset.

Vikings 31, Colts 20 — Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk

One of these two teams will end up 0-2. The Vikings offense is better than advertised. Given that Aaron Rodgers is significantly better than Philip Rivers, that should be more than enough of the Vikings.

Vikings 24, Colts 23 — Staff, Bleacher Report

Nearly our entire crew is also on board with the public's heavy preference in the Minnesota Vikings, who are getting three points from an Indianapolis Colts squad that embarrassed itself in a Week 1 loss to the depleted Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Minnesota secondary is in transition, but a declining, mistake-prone Rivers might have more trouble exploiting that than Rodgers after he threw two picks and posted a sub-90 passer rating in his Colts debut.

Both of these teams are better than their Week 1 results would lead you to believe, but only Minnesota won a playoff game last season, and the Vikes should benefit from having far more continuity than Indy.

Pre-game win probabilities: Vikings 48% — FiveThirtyEight.com

3 of 8 experts pick the Vikings, CBS Sports

5 of 7 experts pick the Vikings, USA TODAY Sports

3 of 6 experts pick the Vikings, The MMQB

3 of 8 experts (two had not turned in their choices) pick the Vikings, ESPN

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