NFL Betting – Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints
While still mathematically alive for a playoff berth, the Minnesota Vikings doomed their chances with a loss to the Bears last week. They are probably the last team the New Orleans Saints want to face, however. The clubs hook up on Christmas day inside the Superdome with the Saints looking to end a 2-game slide and clinch their fourth straight NFC South title. They’d also like to put past playoff failures against the Vikings to rest. Just a year ago the Vikings pulled off the overtime upset in the wild card round, two seasons after the Minneapolis Miracle ended the Saints season. Bookmaker.eu offers a generous welcome bonus (max bonus $1000)
Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints
Date and Time: Friday, December 25, 2020, 4:30 p.m. ET
Location: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA
NFL Odds: New Orleans -6.5 O/U 51
Vikings at Saints TV Coverage: FOX / NFL Network
Odds Analysis
The Vikings have been a mystery over the last five games. They are 2-3 SU over that span with wins over Jacksonville and Carolina by a combined four points. They started the run with a loss to Dallas and are 0-5 ATS in that run. They have had success against the Saints, though, and they are catching 6.5 points on the current NFL betting line. That number is a half-point lower than what the Vikings were getting when they visited the Big Easy last postseason and escaped with an outright 26-20 overtime win. Minnesota is 6-8 SU and ATS. Losing back-to-back games is a rarity for the Saints. It hasn’t happened since 2017. There is no shame in losing to the defending champion Chiefs, but dropping a game to the Eagles stings. The Saints are 0-2 ATS in those games. Going back to the 2007 season the Saints are 19-6 ATS in 25 games following consecutive losses.
Minnesota Vikings
There was a point in the middle of the season where it looked like the Vikings had things figured out. The defense that struggled earlier in the year was playing better and the offense put up points during a three-game winning streak. They fought all the way back from a 1-5 start to break even at 6-6 with an overtime win over Jacksonville. Consecutive losses to Tampa and Chicago saw a return to bad habits and a pair of losses that have all but knocked them from the playoff picture.
Defense has been an issue all season, which is surprising considering how good Minnesota has been in the past under Mike Zimmer. When you allow the Bears to go off for 33 points and nearly 400 yards something is definitely wrong. Injuries have played a big role with linebacker Eric Kendricks missing the last three games. The Vikings have had a hard time stopping the run and that was evident last week when Chicago’s David Montgomery went for a career-high 146 yards and the Bears amassed 199 yards on the ground. The Vikes allow an average of 125.6 rushing yards and are 23rd in total defense giving up 378 yards per game.
Dalvin Cook is the main weapon on offense. The league’s second-leading rusher has nearly 1,500 yards on the ground and is tied for the NFL lead with 15 touchdowns. That’s helped the Vikings produce the fifth-most yards per game, but the group will be tested by the Saints’ top-5 defense.
New Orleans Saints
Even the return of Drew Brees couldn’t help the Saints avoid a second straight loss. After several weeks of inactivity, Brees was back behind center last week and was rusty at the outset. He did find a groove later in the game but it was too late. Brees misfired on his first four pass attempts and finished 15 of 34 for 234 yards and three touchdowns. “You want to be playing your best football going into the playoffs. We understand that we’ve sealed a playoff spot. But the most important factor right now is fur us to win and win the division, and then, and then to continue to kind of build on and ascend, going into the playoffs,” Brees said.
The passing game has been off all season and Brees is looking at a makeshift group of receivers down the stretch. Michael Thomas is done for the year, Deonte Harris is still out and Tre’Quan Smith hurt his ankle last week. Maybe the Saints should try running the football since they have Alvin Kamara on their side. Kamara has rushed for almost 800 yards and Latavius Murray is a solid backup. Both are special out of the backfield in the passing game.
The Saints probably don’t have to worry about facing Minnesota in the playoffs. They do need to right the ship, though, with first place in the NFC still up for grabs and the Bucs not going anywhere in the division.
Bet Vikings at Saints at BookMaker.eu
The Saints will play more to their strength, which is the intermediate passing game and running the football. Brees dusted off the cobwebs and started to look more comfortable, but he’s admittedly still bothered by the injured ribs. Now that he knows what to expect look for the offense to be more efficient against a struggling Vikings defense.
NFL Score Prediction: Saints 31, Vikings 23
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- Phil Simon, Gambling911.com
