The Minnesota Vikings have been comparatively aggressive beneath Mike Zimmer. They reached no less than seven wins in every of his last eight seasons. Nonetheless, they solely made the NFL playoffs in three of these seasons. They gained simply two playoff video games over 9 seasons with Zimmer. Over the previous few seasons, it actually felt just like the Vikings ought to have been higher than their report was.

Zimmer was relieved of his duties on the finish of final season and was changed by former Los Angeles Rams’ offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell. O’Connell clearly performed a big half within the Rams’ offense final season which culminated with them profitable the Tremendous Bowl. Zimmer was seen as an old-fashioned, defensive coach, so O’Connell ought to carry a breath of a lot wanted recent air.

There is definitely optimism surrounding the Vikings getting into the brand new season. Individuals thought they’ve underachieved the previous couple of seasons. O’Connell ought to be capable to get extra out of a ability place group that options Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen and Dalvin Cook dinner. On protection, they’ve two disruptive move rushers in Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith. They added to their secondary within the draft. Lots of people additionally consider the Inexperienced Bay Packers will take a step again this season, which cracks the door open a bit of wider for the Vikings.

The NFC feels huge open this season, with loads of groups considering they’ve an opportunity to on the very least make the playoffs. Yahoo’s Frank Schwab ranked the Vikings twenty first in his preseason energy rankings. Nonetheless, the betting market appears to be a bit of larger than that on Minnesota getting into the 2022 season.

Will the Vikings make the playoffs?

Final season, the Minnesota Vikings gained eight video games. It was a disappointing season when you think about the expertise on the roster, particularly on offense. Accidents did not assist, however the season was disappointing sufficient to price Mike Zimmer his job.

For 2022, the Vikings’ preseason win complete is about at 8.5 wins, however the over facet is closely juiced at -185. That juice comes because of a number of betting motion backing the Vikings to go over. At present, over 8.5 wins has gotten 86% of the bets and 94% of the cash. It would now be cost-prohibitive to guess the over at this quantity. Over 9.5 wins is accessible with odds of +105, however one win is an enormous deal within the NFL and creates an entire new handicap for bettors.

Story continues

Minnesota is at present +250 to win the NFC North. These odds are second greatest within the division, solidly behind Inexperienced Bay who’s the favourite, however comfortably forward of Detroit and Chicago. The Vikings are +130 to complete in second place within the division, which is the probably consequence in line with the oddsmakers. Minnesota is -250 to complete in a top-two spot within the division. Inexperienced Bay and Minnesota occupying the highest two spots is a -165 favourite. The Vikings are the second hottest guess to win the division behind the Lions.

The Vikings are -115 favorites to make the playoffs, odds that counsel them making the playoffs is principally a coin flip. The Vikings be part of groups just like the Cardinals and Saints, who oddsmakers additionally view as a coin flip to make the playoffs within the NFC. Nonetheless, bettors fancy Minnesota’s possibilities. The Vikings are the third hottest guess to make the playoffs within the league. At BetMGM, 96% of bets and 99% of cash is backing the Vikings to qualify for the postseason. Minnesota is +290 to make the playoffs in a wildcard spot.

Minnesota is 20-to-1 to guide the NFL in factors of their first season beneath O’Connell. These odds are tied for twelfth greatest with Arizona, Baltimore, Cleveland and Las Vegas. The Vikings completed 14th in factors final season. Minnesota is 40-to-1 to have essentially the most wins within the NFL.

Vikings are Tremendous Bowl lengthy photographs

Minnesota enters the season as lengthy photographs to win the Tremendous Bowl. They’re 40-to-1 to win all of it. These odds are tied for sixteenth greatest with the Raiders, Dolphins, Patriots, Saints and Titans. This tier matches the Vikings effectively as it is a group of groups that might want to combat and claw to make the playoffs and possibly do not have a lot of a hope as soon as they get there.

The Vikings are 18-to-1 to characterize the NFC within the Tremendous Bowl. These odds are tied for eighth greatest within the convention with the Saints. The Vikings are 14-to-1 to be the No. 1 seed within the convention getting into the postseason. These odds are seventh greatest, simply behind the Cardinals however forward of groups just like the Eagles and Saints.

Vikings participant props and awards

There’s loads of expertise on the Vikings roster. What does the betting market consider a few of their key gamers getting into the season?

Kirk Cousins

Kirk Cousins enters his fifth season because the Vikings’ beginning quarterback. Cousins is 50-to-1 to win NFL MVP this upcoming season. These odds are tied with the likes of Jonathan Taylor, Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones. Cousins is 20-to-1 to guide the league in passing yards this season. These odds are tied for ninth greatest with Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson. He is 18-to-1 to guide the NFL in passing touchdowns. These are the eleventh greatest odds, proper behind Rodgers and Wilson and forward of Matt Ryan. Cousins completed ninth in each classes final season.

Cousin’s yardage prop for the upcoming season is about at over/beneath 4199.5 yards. He had 4221 yards final season and has gone over this quantity in three of 4 seasons with the Vikings. His over/beneath for landing passes is about at 31.5. He had 33 final season and went over the quantity the previous two seasons. When it comes to interceptions, the prop for this upcoming season is about at 10.5 picks. He had simply seven final 12 months and has 36 over 4 seasons with the Vikings.

Justin Jefferson

Justin Jefferson was very matter of truth in declaring himself because the second greatest receiver within the NFL behind Davante Adams. He was equally as assured in saying he’ll be thought of the most effective receiver within the league after this season. Oddsmakers aren’t essentially disagreeing. As the youngsters say nowadays, “no cap.”

Jefferson is the betting favourite to guide the NFL in receiving this upcoming season at +900. He has the third greatest odds to guide the league in receptions behind solely Cooper Kupp and Adams. He is additionally obtained the third greatest odds to guide the league in receiving touchdowns at +900. Solely Kupp and Mike Evans have higher odds than that. Jefferson completed second, fourth and sixth within the three classes final season.

Jefferson is 12-to-1 to win Offensive Participant of the Yr, which is tied for the second greatest odds with Kupp and behind solely Jonathan Taylor. He is at present the most well-liked guess to win the award at BetMGM, and his odds have come down consequently after opening at 20-to-1. Jefferson is 150-to-1 to win NFL MVP, the sixth greatest odds amongst non-quarterbacks behind Taylor, Derrick Henry, Adams, Christian McCaffrey and Kupp.

Jefferson’s props for the upcoming season are set at over/beneath 102.5 receptions, 1349.5 receiving yards and 9.5 receiving touchdowns. Final season, he had 108 receptions for 1616 yards and 10 scores. His profession averages by two seasons are 98 receptions, 1508 yards and eight.5 scores.

Dalvin Cook dinner

Fantasy gamers know all about Dalvin Cook dinner. He is a monster and one of many perfect within the sport, however accidents are sadly a serious concern. Identical to it is a danger to draft him in your leagues, betting on Cook dinner within the futures market is the same danger. Nonetheless, the reward is perhaps value it.

Cook dinner is 10-to-1 to guide the NFL in dashing this upcoming season. These odds are tied for third greatest with Nick Chubb. Solely Jonathan Taylor and Derrick Henry have higher odds. Cook dinner ranked fifth final season regardless of lacking 4 video games with damage. Cook dinner is 11-to-1 to guide the NFL in dashing scores. These odds are tied for fourth greatest with Joe Mixon, trailing solely Taylor, Henry and Chubb.

When it comes to season-long props, the over/beneath for Cook dinner’s dashing yards is about at 1174.5 yards. He had 1159 final season in simply 13 video games, however he is gone beneath this quantity in 4 of 5 seasons, primarily because of accidents. His over/beneath for dashing scores is about at 9.5 touchdowns. He had simply six final 12 months however went over the 2 years prior. His over/beneath for mixed dashing and receiving yards is about at 1499.5 yards. He had 1363 in his 13 video games final 12 months. He went over this quantity in each 2019 and 2020.

Danielle Hunter

Danielle Hunter is 40-to-1 to win NFL Defensive Participant of the Yr. These odds are tied for twelfth greatest with Derwin James, Von Miller and Jalen Ramsey. He is 14-to-1 to guide the league in sacks. These odds are tied for fifth greatest with each of the Bosa brothers. Solely Myles Garrett, T.J. Watt, Aaron Donald and Trey Hendrickson have higher odds.

Hunter had simply six sacks in seven video games final season, however he did report 14.5 sacks in every of his final two wholesome seasons. His over/beneath for sacks this upcoming season is about at 11.5. Hunter is 40-to-1 to win NFL Comeback Participant of the Yr after lacking ten video games final season. These odds are tied for sixteenth greatest with Julio Jones.

Different Vikings gamers

• Adam Thielen is perhaps sliding beneath the radar behind Justin Jefferson, however he is been a productive receiver in his personal proper. He missed 4 video games final season as a consequence of damage however nonetheless posted 67 receptions, 726 yards and 10 touchdowns. His props for the upcoming season are set at 69.5 receptions, 750.5 receiving yards and seven.5 touchdowns. If he is wholesome, he ought to fly previous these numbers on this new offense.

• Za’Darius Smith missed nearly all of final season with Inexperienced Bay, however he is wholesome and able to go for the Vikings this season. He averaged 13 sacks a season in his two wholesome years with the Packers. He is 25-to-1 to guide the league in sacks this upcoming season which is tied for the 14th greatest odds with Von Miller and three others. His over/beneath for sacks is about at 10.

• A pair of rookie defensive backs for the Vikings are lengthy photographs to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Yr. Andrew Sales space is 25-to-1 to win the award whereas Lewis Cine is 40-to-1.

• Harrison Smith’s interception prop for the upcoming season is about at over/beneath 2.5 picks. He had only one final season, however had 5 the season earlier than that. He has 29 picks in his 10 12 months profession.

• Kevin O’Connell enters his first season with the Vikings with 14-to-1 odds to win NFL Coach of the Yr. These odds are tied for second greatest with Brian Daboll of the Giants. Solely Dan Campbell of the Lions has higher odds. A primary 12 months coach taking a non-playoff staff to the playoffs is a surefire strategy to get your self within the operating for this award and O’Connell actually has the chance to perform that.

Vikings open as residence underdogs

A house staff, getting factors. What’s higher than that?

That is the position the Minnesota Vikings discover themselves in for Week 1 because the Vikings open the season as a 2.5-point residence underdog towards the Inexperienced Bay Packers.

The Vikings are one among simply 4 groups to beat the Packers final season, and most count on Minnesota to be improved and the Packers to take a step again this upcoming season. There isn’t any higher method for the Vikings to make a press release than to beat the division favorites early within the season. The Vikings are +110 underdogs on the moneyline.