Minnesota put together a very good second half of the season last year and I don't think there are many people around that don't think new Head Coach, Mike Zimmer, has this team headed in the right direction.. but the fact is they still finished 7-and-9. This team was not a playoff team last year and I feel they will be hard pressed to make the post season this year. I do expect The Vikings to be an improved team this year. I believe a very well rested Adrian Peterson will come out this season with a vengeance. He in a way, has something to prove. I have to believe he wants to shed the nightmare ordeal that was last season and make people forget his mistakes by being that much more impressive on the field this year. But.. is Minnesota a team, like them or not to improve this year, one that deserves to be favored on the road on Monday Night in a season opener? Has this team ascended that fast and just because many are expecting them to be better - have they risen to the ranks of a team that should be favored on the road - yet? Now, I know a ton has gone on in San Francisco over the off season but does all of that dictate that a 7-and-9 team should be favored by basically a field goal over a team that won 8-games?.. and I have seen one 3-out there and my guess would be by game time, you will see more.. because the general perception of The 49'ers is so bad, and there is the thought of Minnesota improving, that you will see this line hit 3. Now, that means this will have been a 7.5 point move since it opened earlier this Summer. Patrick Willis, Justin Smith, Aldon Smith, Chris Borland, Michael Crabtree, Stevie Johnson, Ray Mcdonald, Mike Iupati, Jim Harbaugh.. losing all of these guys to either retirement, law enforcement, The Big House, or free agency.. is that worth 7.5 points? I think you can say YES but it is the other side of the equation that gets me and that is, are The Vikings.. along with all of the turmoil in San Francisco, still is Minnesota a team worthy of this swing?
I think these are tough questions to answer and for me it is a game that I will observe and see how each team responds to opening night, the beginning of their season, Monday Night, Tomsula as the new coach.. I will watch this one and hope to answer some of these questions but if I had to right now, I would lean with taking the points with The 49'ers because I believe their public perception outweighs the perceived Vikings improvement this year.. and thus I think the line has swayed too much in favor of The Vikings.. and waiting for this line to top out at 3, maybe even 3.5, would be the move to make with San Francisco.
So consider this a strong lean on San Francisco at +3 or better. I also lean OVER the total of 41.5.
I do have a Best Bet Premium Play on the early Monday Night game up here now. We are coming off of a 4-and-1 Sunday and looking for more before they call a close to Week One in the NFL..
/pregamepros/pro-bettor/../pro-bettor/bettor.aspx?id=86670#capper
Brady Kannon
@lasvegasgolfer
www.LVTeeTimes.com
www.TeeTimesUSA.com