The New York Giants descend on the Minnesota Vikings for a Wild-Card matchup that has all the hallmarks of a potential upset.
The Vikings might have won the NFC North title behind a sparkling 13-4-0 record, but of all the division champions going into the postseason, they have the look of a vulnerable team. They didn’t blow any of their opponents off the field and wobbled down the stretch..
What’s more, the last time they saw Brian Daboll’s side, they edged them, 27-24, only thanks to a 61-yard field goal delivered by the twinkle-toed kicker Greg Joseph as time expired at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Therefore, all things being considered, the Giants should fancy their chances of delivering the upset and sending seismic shockwaves (well, ok, tremors, at the least) through the NFL betting markets. The question is: Will they pull it off?
Read on as we dive into this fascinating NFC matchup on Super Wild card Weekend, examine the NFL odds powered by BetUS sportsbook, key storylines and serve up choice NFL picks against the spread.
Let’s check the latest NFL odds, stats, injury reports, and NFL lines. We’ve plenty of Vegas NFL odds for NFL Wild Card Playoffs Games.
Giants vs Vikings Betting Odds
- Spread: Vikings -3 (-110)
- Moneyline: Giants +140 | Vikings -160
- Total: O 48 (-110) | U 48 (-110)
Wild-Card Round Opening NFL Odds
Bookmakers went to press with the Vikings laying a field goal on Sunday and that line has held strong over the course of the week, despite the volume of betting showing a distinct trend toward Minnesota.
The total opened at 47½ points. It quickly, however, jumped out to 48 points as large bets poured in on the over.
Giants Punching?
The Giants are in the playoffs for the first time since 2016. [Rejoice Big Blue!] But they go into the Wild-Card round as the conspicuous underdog, catching three points in betting online markets.
Daboll’s Giants are one of the feel-good stories of this season. The surprise package with a first-year head coach, a fifth-year quarterback Daniel Jones and so-called fading stars, such as Saquon Barkley, together punched above their weight class to clinch a playoff spot even though preseason markets dubbed them as longshots.
🚨🚨 Kenny Golladay just scored his first TD as a New York Giant.
And it’s a really impressive one. pic.twitter.com/0NiVZKcFsA
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 9, 2023
The G-Men rubber-stamped their passage following a 38-10 win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 17. Still, they showed up to play in the final week – starters and backups, one and all – giving the Philadelphia Eagles a run for their money in a 22-16 loss that saw them cover a hefty +17-point closing spread.
By the stats, the Giants finished as the best team against the spread with a 13-4-0 ATS record.
Vikings on Shaky Ground?
The Vikings were predicted to be competitive, but the Green Bay Packers were projected as the team to beat in the NFC North. Tale told, the Packers failed to live up to expectations, paving the way for the Vikings to swoop in on the crown.
The Vikings finished their campaign with a 29-13 win over the listless Chicago Bears last Sunday. It was a necessary confidence-boosting win after being manhandled by the Packers in a 41-17 loss in Week 17. though beating the Bears – who were eyeing up the No. 1 draft pick anyway and didn’t mind losing – is hardly something bettors can hang their hats on.
Get Griddy, @athielen19! pic.twitter.com/LNPP96i3Wh
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) January 8, 2023
Kirk Cousin and Co. were looking to improve their seeding in the final week, but things didn’t fall in their favor and they were unable to move up the pecking order. The San Francisco 49ers, who defeated the Arizona Cardinals resoundingly, moved into the No. 2 seed thanks to a better winning percentage in conference games.
By the stats, the Vikings are 7-9-1 versus the spread.
Giants vs Vikings Picks and Prediction
The Giants proved they could make a fist of it against the Vikings, and they could do so again in this sudden-death game,
The Vikings have won 13 of their 17 games but 11 of those were decided by one score, including the three-point win over the Giants. This inability to assert themselves against their opponents is at the crux of the concern surrounding them ahead of this matchup and has them practically leaping off the page as the top pick for the upset of the week.
The Vikings are priced at -160 on the moneyline (bet $160 to win $100) while the Giants are priced at +140 (bet $100 to win $140).
On top of the fact that the Vikings have lived dangerously from week to week, there’s serious concern about the defense, which can part like the Red Sea. It’s the NFL’s 31st-ranked defense with 25.9 points allowed per game.
And let’s not forget Cousins’ big-game jitters, which still rear their ugly heads on occasion. This leads many to question: Can Kirk Cousins and Co. be trusted to win, never mind cover the -3 point spread?
The 41-17 loss to the Packers a fortnight ago is a perfect example of why betting on the Vikings can be risky. (It’s worth noting that had the Packers not taken their foot off the pedal and allowed Cousins to score two quick touchdowns late in the game, the embarrassment would have been much greater.)
The Packers provide a handy blueprint against an electric Vikings offense. It’s hard to see the Giants replicating such a lopsided win, but If they take a page from Green Bay’s game plan, don’t be surprised if the G-Men deliver the big upset of the Wild-Card Round.
The odds and predictions in the article are based on the time of writing and publication. They may differ as to when the actual event takes place.
