There are all sorts of interesting storylines keys to watch for, entering Monday’s much-anticipated contest, including the debut of JJ McCarthy and whatever Kevin O’Connell’s version of a “ground and pound” running game will look like.

But of all the places to get insider analysis and expert predictions, local beat writers and content creators remain the unquestioned No. 1 source. After all, they are the media members who hang around the team on a regular basis. Many of them also receive information from sources close to the team that nobody else has access to.

Thus, it is worth wrangling up the picks and predictions of said writers and content creators, in order to get the best feel for how each upcoming Minnesota Vikings game might play out.

To add context, we’ve also included picks and predictions from popular national media outlets, who do not follow the Vikings as closely as those on the local beat. That will allow you to compare and contrast how local media views the MN Vikings vs those in the national space.

Week 1 Minnesota Vikings local beat writer & media predictions

• Ben Goessling (Star Tribune) – Vikings 17, Bears 13

As much as Monday night is about McCarthy’s debut on national TV, it’s also a checkpoint for Williams…Expect the Vikings to come after Williams throughout the night. If they can keep him from repeating the escape acts he staged at Soldier Field last year, they should extend their winning streak in the stadium, their house of horrors for much of the century, to a once-unthinkable six games. — Star Tribune

• Dane Mizutani (Pioneer Press) – Vikings 20, Bears 17

JJ McCarthy grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, roughly 30 minutes from Soldier Field. He will do just enough to win his highly anticipated NFL debut against the team he grew up cheering for. — Pioneer Press (physical paper only)

Related: Vikings vs Bears Preview + Game Day Cheat Sheet

• John Shipley (Pioneer Press) – Vikings 21, Bears 19

Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has a year under his belt, but if J.J. McCarthy is the guy Kevin O’Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah insist he is, the Vikings’ overall depth will be enough to win their opener. — Pioneer Press (physical paper only)

• Matthew Coller (Purple Insider) – Vikings 24, Bears 17

I’ll go Vikings, something in the 24-17 ballpark. With both QBs having a ton of pressure on them and neither team really knowing what the other is going to do schematically, I’m thinking that the better roster is going to win out. — Purple Insider

Monday Night Football – Vikings vs Bears national predictions

• ESPN – 6 of 11 experts pick Vikings
  • Sonia Bell – Vikings
  • Mike Clay – Bears
  • Jeremy Fowler – Vikings
  • Dan Graziano – Vikings
  • Kalyn Kahler – Vikings
  • Matt Bowen – Bears
  • Pamela Maldonado – Bears
  • Eric Moody – Bears
  • Seth Walder – Bears
  • Seth Wickersham – Vikings

Williams finally has a real offense with which to work. Johnson’s system brings heavy play-action, and protection upgrades with Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson will give Williams time to operate and attack downfield. With DJ Moore, Odunze, Burden and Loveland, Chicago now has a complete group of pass-catching options capable of stressing Minnesota’s secondary.

Defensively, the Bears’ revamped front should help neutralize the backfield duo of Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason, and force McCarthy into tough throws. At home, facing a quarterback making his NFL regular-season debut, Chicago has the roster, scheme and edge to start 1-0. It just needs to execute. — Pamela Maldonado

Related: It’s Pretty Much a Contract Year for One Key Vikings Pass-Catcher

• The Athletic – 3 of 8 experts pick Vikings
  • Joe Buscaglia – Bears
  • Chad Graff – Vikings
  • Larry Holder – Bears
  • Josh Kendall – Vikings
  • Nick Kosmider – Bears
  • Austin Mock – Bears
  • Zack Rosenblatt – Vikings
  • Josiah Turner – Bears

Bears fans can pretend last year never happened. Quarterback Caleb Williams starts fresh with a dramatically improved offensive line, two more pass-catching weapons, and the league’s most celebrated offensive mind calling the shots. For the first time, the franchise appears committed to pushing forward rather than simply making defensible decisions.

Across the field, the Vikings get to deploy J.J. McCarthy after losing his first season to injury. McCarthy has more hype than is perhaps reasonable for a player who still hasn’t seen an NFL game, but those who’ve seen him in action insist the young man can ball. — The Athletic

• MMQB (Sports Illustrated) – 6 of 7 experts pick Vikings
  • Albert Breer – Vikings
  • Conor Orr – Vikings
  • Gilberto Manzano – Vikings
  • Matt Verderami – Vikings
  • John Pluym – Vikings
  • Mitch Goldich – Bears
  • Claire Brennan – Vikings

If you’re a Timberwolves fan trying to make the trip to OKC for games one and/or two, don’t order through TicketMaster, which has geographical restrictions on who can and cannot buy tickets. Read more on that crazy story, HERE.

If Minnesota can grab a road win to start off the Western Conference Finals, as they have done early in each of their previous two series, momentum in this series will change nearly immediately.

Western Conference Finals Picks and Predictions: Minnesota Timberwolves vs Oklahoma City Thunder

NBA oddsmakers don’t see that happening, though. All the major sportsbooks have Minnesota as sizable underdogs, not just Tuesday night in game one, but in the series too. And it’s not just Vegas doubting them.

Most national media members have the Thunder advancing to the NBA Finals over the Wolves too, despite this being the ladder’s second-straight trip to the West Finals, not to mention the difficulties OKC had putting away the Nuggets in round two.

Report: Rudy Gobert Dumps Pregnant Girlfriend, Kicks Her Out of House

Nonetheless, the vast majority of NBA experts are leaning into the odds, especially at The Athletic and NBA.com, where 15 of 17 pundits are picking the Thunder. Remember, the Minnesota Timberwolves can proved these “experts” wrong, they’ll be off to the first NBA Finals in franchise history.

The immediate storyline in this series is Anthony Edwards vs Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Those are the two superstars who have the capability of single-handedly dictating the outcome in these Western Conference Finals.

These two split four games during the regular season, but they have not played since February and Julius Randle only played in the first game between the two. And you have to believe the Minnesota Timberwolves are desperate to prove last year’s West Finals were a fluke.

Related: Shaq Retells Story Proving NBA (Probably) Rigged 1992 Draft Lottery Against the Timberwolves

Over at ESPN, they seem to have believe more in that eventual reality than their colleagues at other national mainstream media outlets. Still, there are more doubters than believers over at ESPN, too. Out of 13 NBA experts at the four-letter network, a whopping FIVE picked the Wolves.

Philly is 1-0 as well, after defeating the Detroit Lions last week. How did they look in that matchup? Pretty good, until they got up 31-14, after scoring a TD on their first 2nd-half drive. Then, the Lions roared back to within three points and nearly handed the Eagles an L.

It was a strong first half showing. In the 2nd half, however, Philly looked tired and lethargic. Lions RB, D’Andre Swift, did most of the damage, running wild for 144 yards on just 15 carries. Even Jared Goff looked formidable, at times late, posting 215 yards and 2 touchdowns of his own.

Experts Like Eagles over Vikings

Still, much of the “NFL Expert” world is on the Eagles bandwagon this week. Philadelphia enters Monday night as 2.5-point favorites. Many national media members do not trust Kirk Cousins in primetime and doubt whether the Vikings’ offense can find success in a hostile environment like what they’ll see tonight.

Picking the Eagles isn’t near unanimous, though. The Minnesota Vikings have their fair share of believers out there too. Out of 55 Eagles vs Vikings predictions below, just 21 NFL experts have the Vikings winning. That means 34 are going Eagles.

Just 3/10 experts at The Athletic picked Minnesota to defeat Philadelphia tonight. They’re an unpopular pick over at CBS Sports, too, where just 2/7 experts picked the Vikings to win. Bleacher Report (5/7 picked Vikings) and USA Today (4/7 picked Vikings) are the most confident in Minnesota’s chances.

National Prediction Roundup

Here is a roundup of how major media outlets/personalities across the NFL are picking tonight’s game between the Vikings and Eagles.

ESPN

• Stephania Bell: Eagles
• Matt Bowen: Eagles
• Mike Clay: Eagles
• Jeremy Fowler: Eagles
• Domonique Foxworth: Eagles
• Dan Graziano: Vikings
• Jason Reid: Eagles
• Laura Rutledge: Vikings
• Seth Wickersham: Eagles
• Damien Woody: Vikings
• Stephen A. Smith: Eagles
• Michael Irvin: Vikings

The Athletic

• Jay Morrison: Eagles
• Josh Kendall: Vikings
• Michael-Shawn Dugar: Eagles
• Tashan Reed: Eagles
• Ben Standig: Eagles
• Larry Holder: Eagles
• Mark Kaboly: Vikings
• Zach Berman: Eagles
• Austin Mock: Vikings
• Nick Kosmider: Eagles

CBS Sports

• Pete Prisco: Eagles
• Jason La Canfora: Vikings
• Will Brinson: Eagles
• Jared Dubin: Eagles
• Ryan Wilson: Eagles
• John Breech: Vikings
• Dave Richard: Eagles
• Jamey Eisenberg: Eagles

Sports Illustrated (MMQB)

• Albert Breer: Vikings
• Mitch Goldich: Vikings
• Gary Gramling: Eagles
• Conor Orr: Eagles
• John Pluym: Eagles

USA Today

• Jarrett Bell: Eagles
• Nate Davis: Eagles
• Safid Deen: Vikings
• Tyler Dragon: Eagles
• Parker Gabriel: Vikings
• Mike Jones: Vikings
• Lorenzo Reyes: Vikings

Pro Football Talk

• Mike Florio: Eagles
• Michael David Smith: Vikings

Bleacher Report

• Greg Ivory: Vikings
• Maurice Moton: Vikings
• Wes O’Donnell: Vikings
• Ian Kenyon: Eagles
• Kris Knox: Eagles
• Gary Davenport: Vikings
• Brent Sobieski: Vikings

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Could that change in 2022? Well, there’s a lot of hype building around Minnesota’s chances, of late. Like, Stewart Mandel (The Athletic), who picked the Gophers to finish 9-3, tied with the Iowa Hawkeyes atop division.

Mandel isn’t the only Big Ten writer who believes in PJ Fleck & Co this season. 10 of 11 took the over on Minnesota’s over/under win total of 7.5. The same 10 that picked Nebraska to fall short of the same mark.

Stewart Mandel’s Big Ten West prediction. pic.twitter.com/Hjk65Kh5an

— Huskers Gameday (@HuskersGameday) August 23, 2022

Win total o/u is the same for both Minnesota and Nebraska FB this season (7.5).

10 of 11 The Athletic B1G writers see the #Gophers hitting the over and the Huskers falling short. pic.twitter.com/VUmiQi2JYu

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) August 26, 2022

Last Chance at Big Ten West Crown?

This is one of the last seasons where Big Ten divisions will exist, at least in their current form. Rumors have swirled that the West and East divisions will be eliminated, as early as next season. In 2024, USC and UCLA enter the picture.

Currently, the Big Ten’s expansion plans include 20 total teams. So whether it happens next season, or shortly thereafter, the route to a division championship in the Big Ten is going to change.

The Athletic isn’t the only media outlet hyping the 2022 Minnesota Gophers. Big Ten Network is all over the them too.

“I just don’t see another team that is as complete as the Gophers.”

???? @BigAntHerron, on his pick to win the Big Ten West#B1Gtoday x @GopherFootball pic.twitter.com/yETg2yxgd0

— Minnesota on BTN (@MinnesotaOnBTN) August 24, 2022

We've added @JakeButtTE to the family, and the former @UMichFootball TE is answering some fan questions before the season kicks off. ????

➡️ Sleeper contenders to win @B1GFootball?
➡️ Michigan rematch vs. @HawkeyeFootball at Kinnick?
➡️ Best OL in the conference? pic.twitter.com/ygGFa68xK0

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) August 25, 2022

Still not convinced? How about Barstool? They have two CFB experts picking PJ Fleck as coach of the year. Kayce Smith might as well buy shares in Dinkytown the way she’s obsessing over maroon and gold. She has the two above picks, along with the Gophers as “Most Underrated Team”.

On our MEGA Season Preview Pod (PART 1) we broke down:

???? Champ
???? Division Winners
???? Most Disappointing Team
???? Most underrated team
???? Player of the year
???? Coach of the year
???? Upset of the year

Here is the result for THE B1G! pic.twitter.com/vTTWH7edz4

— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) August 24, 2022

Hype Overload

Not a fan of Barstool? I get it (no I don’t). Then, how about ESPN? Senior writer, Mark Schlabach didn’t have the testicular fortitude to outright pick the Minnesota Gophers as West champions. But he did include an entire paragraph about how badly he wanted to. Mark also wrote about how Scott Frost wouldn’t make it through the season. And after an week one loss to Northwestern, he’s looking pretty smart on that prediction.

Minnesota wins the West: I went with Wisconsin, which seemed like the safer pick, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Gophers in the Big Ten championship game, either. Minnesota has to throw the ball more than it did last season — only Navy, Army and Air Force attempted fewer passes in 2021. Quarterback Tanner Morgan should be better under offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca, who was there when Minnesota won 11 games in 2019. Tailback Mohamed Ibrahim, the Big Ten running back of the year in 2020, is back after tearing his Achilles in last season’s opener. – Mark Schlabach (ESPN)

Why so much hype?

The hype building around the Minnesota Gophers is based on a few things. First, the West division is one of the more wide open in all of college football (Wisconsin fans may disagree). And that is more true this season, than in any in the division’s 9-year history.

Second, this is the deepest team since Fleck took over, even more so than the 2019 squad. On his weekly radio show / podcast, PJ talked about his comfortability playing 10-11 defensive linemen. And DL may not be the deepest position group on the team. Tanner Morgan has Athan Kaliakmanis and Cole Kramer biting at his heels. Dylan Wright, Chris Autman-Bell and Michael Brown-Stephens make the best threesome of wide receivers in the division.

Linebackers run four to five deep. The secondary has four starters with a ton of experience and two transfers that would start on most Big Ten teams. Mo Ibrahim, Trey Potts and Zach Evans might make up the best running back group in the West, too.

Lastly, the schedule. Minnesota is slated to play just two top-25 teams all year. Michigan State in week 4 and Wisconsin in the season finale. Penn State, in week 7, will be a challenge as well. But most importantly, there’s no contact with Michigan or Ohio State.

The @bigten has modified Minnesota's 2022 schedule. New schedule ⤵️

???? https://t.co/7NGvN8lhJq #RTB // #SkiUMah // #Gophers pic.twitter.com/otu1PIEgGw

— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) January 12, 2022

Rose Bowl Dreams

A Big Ten West championship would also bring a very good likelihood that the Gophers return to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1962, a historic postseason dream for Minnesota football fans, that may cease to exist after next season.

So can the Gophers, who once dominated the nation in college football, win the Big Ten West and find their way back to the Rose Bowl for the first time in 60 years? Yes, they can. And I’m not the only person who thinks that.

So… Row the boat. Ski-U-Mah. Go Gophers.

SEVEN DAYS TILL GOPHER GAMEDAY! #Gophers pic.twitter.com/c3rmlefkbJ

— Noel Thompson (@N0ELTHOMPSON) August 25, 2022

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan