Only 4% of NFL experts pick Vikings over Saints, which is a little too familiar

[sendtonews_embed video_id=”X16xouKxEh-1084647-7498″]

NFL experts aren’t forecasting a close one on Friday, with the New Orleans Saints overwhelmingly picked to defeat the Minnesota Vikings, per NFL Pickwatch — by a margin as wide as 97% Saints, 3% Vikings, at press time. Results will continue to change as more picks are filed to outlets around the NFL’s orbit.

If that sounds a little familiar, it’s because it should be: 3% of these same experts sided with the Vikings in January’s playoff game, which, of course, Minnesota won unexpectedly.

That heavy swing was reflected by oddsmakers, too: at the time, the Saints were 7.5-point favorites, and BetMGM currently likes New Orleans to win by 7. In January, though, Minnesota claimed a 26-20 victory.

So fans should probably feel cautious, if not outright skeptical.

Elsewhere around the NFC South, the Kansas City Chiefs have been given dangerous 100% certainty in defeating the Atlanta Falcons, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a 99% chance of holding off the Detroit Lions. The Carolina Panthers are being picked by just 33% of experts to win against the Washington Football Team.

But as we’ve seen firsthand, even the best-informed observers can make the wrong call (and in large numbers). So the Week 16 slate is well worth watching.

[vertical-gallery id=41778]