Minnesota Vikings NFL Betting Odds

2010 Season

In 2009, the Minnesota Vikings dropped just four games in the regular season to top the NFC North division, and make it to the NFC Championship where they narrowly lost 31-28 to the New Orleans Saints. Which makes their dismal NFL 2010-11 season, which saw them finish last in their division on 6-10, even more puzzling.

2011 Off Season

The wheels pretty much fell off for the Vikings from the get go last season, and while they rallied here and there, they were never really in it. Which is why they had so much work to do in the off season under new head coach Leslie Frazier, who led the team 3 for 3 at the end of last season. Frazier cleaned house by bidding QB Brett Favre, WR Sidney Rice, DTs Pat Williams and Jimmy Kennedy, OL Bryant McKinnie and DE Ray Edwards farewell, while signing the likes of QB Donovan McNabb and WR Michael Jenkins. He also use the 2011 NFL Draft to secure the services of talented QB Christian Ponder of Florida State.

2011 Preview

Even with some some exciting new blood in the team, Frazier will have his work cut out for him to get the team back to the level they were at two seasons ago. That said, there were some respectable aspects of Minnesota's game. Offensively for instance, RB Adrian Peterson was a shining light, who helped the Vikings finish 10th in the NFL in rushing at 121 YPG. But the Vikings' passing game struggled, despite the services of Favre, who in hind sight should have retired at the end of the 2009-10 season. Frazier no doubt worked on this aspect of the team's game in the off season. In terms of defense, the Vikings interestingly held their own last season, finishing a none-too-shabby eighth overall in the league after allowing just 313 YPG, and ninth versus the run, giving up just 102 YPG, which means they required less work in the off season.

2011 Prediction

The bottom line is that if the Vikings' offense can pull up their socks (i.e. McNabb rises to the occasion), and their defense continues to be as competitive as they were last season - if not better, they have a chance of rising once more through the NFL ranks, and might even make the playoffs this season. Of course, those are a lot of 'ifs', but as he proved last season, coach Frazier is capable of getting the Vikings to rally.

**Our Pick

If the oddsmakers were blind-sided by the Vikings' poor form last season, they are taking no chances this season, listing the team at +750 to win the NFC North division, +2,250 to win the NFC Championship and +4,000 to win Super Bowl XLVI. But for our NFL betting buck, we predict a new, more streamlined and more focused Minnesota will rise from the ashes, and ultimately finish second in the NFC North on 10-6.