Minnesota Vikings vs. Houston Texans: Betting Odds, Point Spread Move Amid Coronavirus Scare

The Minnesota Vikings appear ready to play the Houston Texans as scheduled Sunday afternoon after worries that members of the team might test positive for the coronavirus.

Seven players on the Tennessee Titans have reportedly tested positive for the coronavirus in the days following their NFL Week 3 matchup with Minnesota. The Vikings, who lost to the Titans Sunday, shut down their training facility Tuesday and Wednesday, returning Thursday when players and coaches continued to test negative.

Houston’s practice schedule was not disrupted, and their perceived advantage over Minnesota was reflected in the point spread. The Texans went from 3.5-point favorites Monday to five-point favorites Wednesday at some sportsbooks.

Now that the Vikings are back on the field, the betting line has returned to 3.5 points, according to odds compiled by OddsShark. The betting total is 53.5.

“We are going to try and get in everything that we normally get in,” Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer told reporters. “We had to push back our days a little bit with some of the testing we have to do now. We had basically all day to meet with the players (on Wednesday) and had quite a bit of meeting time. We will have a little less meeting time, and a little more practice and walk-through time in the next couple days.”

The Texans and Vikings are two of the NFL’s five teams that have lost every game so far this season. Houston has faced three of the league’s top teams, losing to the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. Minnesota’s opponents are a combined 8-1.

The Vikings covered the spread for the first time in Week 3 in their 31-30 loss to the Titans. The Texans are still looking for their first win against the spread.

Sunday’s matchup between Pittsburgh and Tennessee has been postponed for later in the season.