It’s hard to believe the Minnesota Vikings were in the NFC Championship game not all that long ago but at the same time this is hardly the roster that played in that game. The Vikings are still in rebuilding mode and are off a franchise high 13 loss season, while winning just 9 total games in their last 2 years. This year they have a new game plan as they look to build for the future, but are still a few years away from making it back to the post season. BetOnline has the Minnesota Vikings listed at +6000 odds ($100 to win $6000) to win the NFC Championship and +2800 odds ($100 to win $2800) to take NFC North Title. The latest Super Bowl Odds for the Minnesota are +10000 ($100 to win $10000).
After failing with Brett Favre and Donovan McNaab the last few years the Vikings will stick with Christian Ponder this year. Ponder should be another year better at QB and while he loses Steve Hutchinson on the line, Kalil should more than make up for it. Percy Harvin is the playmaker from the receiver spot but the Vikings weren’t shy about grabbing receivers in the draft taking Greg Childs and Jarius Wright from Arkansas and they also picked up the troubled but talented Jerome Simpson from the Bengals. The biggest question for this team is when will Adrian Petersen return. If Kalil plays to his potential along the line and if Adrian stays healthy when he does return and If Ponder has a solid year at QB, then they should surpass the 21 ppg and 18 ppg they put up the last 2 years. A lot of big ifs but I expect improvement on the offense.
Defensively the Vikings allowed 28 ppg and 358 ypg, which were two of the worst numbers in the league. They also allowed 251 ypg through the air as they defensive Backfield was not all the good. Well the Vikes used their 2nd and 3rd pick of the draft to address this by taking DB's Harrison Smith (Notre Dame) and Josh Robinson (Central Florida). I expect big improvements from their secondary this year. Jared Allen never seems to take a play off or even part of a play as he hasn’t lost a step. Kevin Williams is a terror on the interior occupying blockers and doing exactly what an interior defensive lineman is supposed to do, occupy blockers. Chris Carr coming over from the Ravens can’t do anything but help as Antoine Winfield is injured often and is getting up in age. The Vikings have usually had solid defense and I do see a good sized improvement from this group this year.
Overall the Vikings are starting to put some pieces together, but they are still way behind the rest of the division. Minnesota will top plays years 3 win total and they may even double that, but they still have a ways to go be fore challenging for a playoff spot this year. The Over/ Under for Wins this year for the Vikings is 6 at sportsbook.ag, with the Under 6 being the favorite. Vegas based Cantor Gaming has released pointspreads for weeks 1 through 16 and they see a rough ahead for Minnesota, as they are favored in just 3 of their games, with one pick.
Vikings Regular-Season Schedule and Pointspreads (Courtesy of Cantor Gaming)
(All times Eastern)
Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 9, Jacksonville, 1:00 PM (-4)
Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 16, at Indianapolis, 1:00 PM (+2.5)
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 23, San Francisco, 1:00 PM (+4.5)
Week 4: Sunday, Sept. 30, at Detroit, 1:00 PM (+9)
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 7, Tennessee, 1:00 PM (Pick 'em)
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 14, at Washington, 4:15 PM (+4)
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 21, Arizona, 1:00 PM (-1)
Week 8: Thursday, Oct. 25, Tampa Bay, 8:20 PM (-3)
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 4, at Seattle, 4:05 PM (+5.5)
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 11, Detroit, 1:00 PM (+3.5)
Week 11: BYE
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 25, at Chicago, 1:00 PM (+7.5)
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 2, at Green Bay, 1:00 PM (+13.5)
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 9, Chicago, 1:00 PM (+2.5)
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 16, at St. Louis, 1:00 PM (+3)
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 23, at Houston, 1:00 PM (+10)
Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 30, Green Bay, 1:00 PM (No Line Posted Yet)
Wiseguy Franks Preparation for Football Season
Host RJ Bell talks with Wiseguy Frank about his experiences last season, betting strategies, and this upcoming season.