The 49ers and Vikings have played 41 times in the regular season, with Minnesota holding a 21-19-1 advantage. San Francisco, however, has won four of five postseason meetings.
The San Francisco 49ers open up the 2015 regular season with a showdown against the visiting Minnesota Vikings on "Monday Night Football."
Here are the experts' picks from around the web for the Week 1 clash. Give us your predictions in the comment section below...
Peter Schrager of Fox Sports: 49ers 24, Vikings 17
"I'm not as down on the 49ers as the rest of my media brethren and actually think they could surprise some folks this season. If Tomsula has seen his roster dismantled over the past eight months, he's also seen a team strengthened and galvanized by its obstacles. I like the 49ers at home here, and I think we're going to see a different Colin Kaepernick in 2015 than the one we did in 2014. It starts Week 1 with this late-night win."
Elliot Harrison of NFL.com: Vikings 21, 49ers 17
"Minnesota steals one on the road. Down three with 1:54 on the clock, Teddy Bridgewater takes the Vikes down the field and wins the game. Perhaps no player has impressed more over the last month of relatively insignificant football while displaying significant development. The 49ers' D is going to have to help out Kap by halting Adrian Peterson. With the grand attrition in the Niners' front seven and the rash of injuries on the Vikings' offensive line, it will be very interesting to see how the matchup in the trenches plays out."
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Barry Wilner of The Associated Press:](http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/10/nfl-picks-predictions-week/72011296/)** 49ers 17, Vikings 16
"Vikings supposedly a team on the rise, Niners a team on the decline. Maybe, but not this week."
Greg Cote of the Miami Herald: 49ers 23, Vikings 20
"I have a strong hunch that a Monday home opener will be the perfect stage for Colin Kaepernick and crew to declare they ain't done yet."
Dennis Manoloff of The Cleveland Plain Dealer: Vikings 27, 49ers 16
"Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater excels against a rebuilding outfit."
Vinnie Iyer of Sporting News: 49ers 16, Vikings 13
"There's been a lot of hype about the young Vikes steering right into the playoffs, while everyone seems to already have deep-sixed the Niners. But Arian Peterson is facing a still-strong run defense in what figures to be an ugly slugfest. In the battle of Bridgewater vs. water bridges, the other Jim gets his first win the Kap off the week."
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk: Vikings 30, 49ers 21
"Adrian Peterson won't be a decoy, but look for offensive coordinator Norv Turner to take full advantage of the home team's obsession with stopping Peterson."
Neil Greenberg of The Washington Post: 49ers win
"There won't be many games where the 49ers are the favorite to win, but the Vikings offense is still a work in progress, so credit home-field advantage in this week's victory."
Fox Sports' panel of eight experts: Four pick 49ers, four pick Vikings
CBS Sports' panel of eight experts: Seven pick Vikings, one picks 49ers
ESPN's panel of 13 experts: 11 pick Vikings, two pick 49ers
