Tag: NFC playoffs lines

Should you bet on the Minnesota Vikings to win Super Bowl LIV?

Previewing the Minnesota Vikings’ Super Bowl LIV chances, with NFL betting odds, picks, futures and best bets.

The Minnesota Vikings are one of the bigger Jekyll and Hyde teams in the league, and have been for some time. Their veteran-laden lineup has Pro Bowl talent on both sides of the ball, but when it comes to putting it all together in a season, it has yet to happen for the Vikings.

And this season shouldn’t be the exception to that rule.

Minnesota’s odds of winning the Super Bowl are currently at +3300. Only Buffalo (+6000) and Tennessee (+4000) have longer odds.

New to sports betting? A $100 wager on the Vikings to win the Super Bowl would return a profit of $3,300 should they run the table.

NFL futures odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Friday at 5:15 p.m. ET.

Can the Vikings pull it off?

Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings know a thing or two about beating the Saints in the playoffs. (Photo credit: Harrison Barden – USA TODAY Sports)

Get some action on the games by betting at BetMGM. New customer offer: RISK-FREE First Bet (up to $500!) paid in free bets.

One thing that Minnesota has going for it is a defense that can contain opposing offenses. The Vikings defense gave up just 31 touchdowns this season — fewer than two per game and fewest of any NFC playoff team. The defense isn’t as dominant as it has been in previous seasons, but still held opponents to 21 or fewer points in 10 games.

The Vikings also have a penchant for stringing together wins. Over the last five seasons, Minnesota has had winning streaks of four or more games in all but one of them, including two streaks of five straight wins and one of eight.

This season, Minnesota won four straight in October to go from 2-2 to 6-2 and virtually cement its playoff position. This is a team capable of getting on a hot streak.

Or is it just too tall a task?

Running back Dalvin Cook is one of several players capable of carrying the Vikings far in playoffs. The problem is just how log that road will be with three road wins needed just to get to the Super Bowl. (Photo c: Brace Hemmelgarn – USA TODAY Sports)

The biggest problem with the Vikings, however, is that they didn’t win the NFC North. And it doesn’t help that a loaded NFC forced a 13-3 New Orleans team to play on wild-card weekend.

The 10-6 Vikings know two things. 1) They have to go on the road to play a 13-3 team in the first round of the playoffs (New Orleans) and 2) if they win that game, they have to go back on the road to play another 13-3 team (San Francisco). And if the Vikings get through that and the other half of the NFC bracket holds, it would mean a third trip to a 13-3 club, to face Green Bay in the NFC title game.

Then there’s the whole Saints looking for revenge for the Minnesota Miracle to postseasons ago, as well.

Minnesota has the horses to some damage with Kirk Cousins, Dalvin Cook, Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs and Kyle Rudolph on offense and Danielle Hunter, Linval Joseph, Everson Griffen, Anthony Barr, Eric Kendricks, Harrison Smith and Xavier Rhodes on defense — but the path through the NFC is just too daunting to expect that the Vikings can make the run needed to get to the Super Bowl, much less win it.

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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Should you bet on the Eagles to win Super Bowl LIV?

Previewing the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIV NFL chances, with NFL betting odds, picks, futures and best bets

The NFL playoffs begin this weekend and, as NFC East champions, the Philadelphia Eagles will host the final of the four wild-card games on Sunday afternoon. The Eagles finished the season 9-7, beating the Dallas Cowboys in Week 16 then closing out the division crown with a 34-17 road win against the Giants in Week 17.

In all, the Eagles had to win four in a row to do it. And they needed every win.

Now Philadelphia readies for its playoff run with one looming question: Can the Eagles win four more games and take home its second Super Bowl title in the last three seasons?

The question for you is whether you should bet on the Eagles to actually sweep through the playoffs and win Super Bowl LIV.

NFL futures odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Wednesday at 6:30 pm. ET.

Get some action on the games by betting at BetMGM. New customer offer: RISK-FREE First Bet (up to $500!) paid in free bets.

The odds certainly wouldn’t point to the Eagles even making the playoffs, as they sit at +1200 to win the NFC, tied with Seattle for the second-longest odds in the NFC. Only Minnesota (+1600) has longer odds.

Philly is tied for the third-longest odds to win the Super Bowl at +3300. So while their odds of pulling it all off seem unlikely, the Eagles offer one of the biggest potential paydays in the playoffs.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the Eagles to win the Super Bowl would return a profit of $330 should Philadelphia win the game.

Yes, it is a big payday. The question is whether it is worth betting on the Eagles.

Eagles to win the Super Bowl: Worth the risk?

Carson Wentz and the Eagles conquered the Dallas Cowboys in December. Can they conquer the rest of the NFL in January and February? (Photo Credit: Matthew Emmons – USA TODAY Sports)

They did win their final four games to get into the playoffs, so they are hot. However, those four games were all against the NFC East. They did not beat a winning team in the final eight games of the season.

They were 5-3 at home and 4-4 on the road. They likely will only have one playoff game at home — and that’s against the Seahawks, who have a better record than the Eagles (11-5) and were literally one yard away from winning the NFC West.

The Eagles’ receiving corps is underwhelming and Philadelphia struggles in the secondary. And last week, the club saw one of its best linemen, guard Brandon Brooks, go down for the remainder of the season. Running back Miles Sanders, a revelation in the second half of the season, also went down against the Giants and his availability is in question. And then there are injuries to All-Pro tight end Zach Ertz and All-Pro tackle Lane Johnson, both of whom are also uncertain for Sunday.

And if the Eagles do get past the Seahawks, they will likely be sitting in the divisional round with a trio of 11-3 teams … and that’s before we start talking potential Super Bowl opponent.

The potential payout is huge, but unless it is a casual, small bet, the Eagles aren’t worth wagering much.

Want action on this bet? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Should you bet on the 49ers to win Super Bowl LIV?

Previewing the 49ers’ Super Bowl LIV NFL chances, with NFL betting odds, picks, futures and best bets

The San Francisco 49ers steamrolled their way to an 8-0 record to open the season, allowing more than 20 points just once in that span. Then came an overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 10 and a 3-3 run over the next six games as the San Francisco defense came back down to earth.

Nevertheless, the 49ers finished the season 5-3, earned the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs, and still look like one of the best teams in the NFL. The oddsmakers see it that way, too. As of Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET, BetMGM lists the 49ers at +400 to win Super Bowl LIV, the second-best odds only to the Ravens (+225).

NFL futures odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Wednesday at 3:30 pm. ET.

Get some action on the games by betting at BetMGM. New customer offer: RISK-FREE First Bet (up to $500!) paid in free bets.

The upside of betting on the 49ers isn’t nearly as high as picking a team like the Texans (+3300), but the risk is also much lower, given the fact that San Francisco has a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the NFC.

So should you lay down a wager on the 49ers to win it all? Absolutely. In fact, they’re one of the best bets in the playoffs for a couple of reasons.

Sizing up the NFC field

Jimmy Garoppolo and the San Francisco 49ers spent much of the regular season perched atop the NFC. (Photo credit: Kirby Lee – USA TODAY Sports)

First is San Francisco’s seeding and the NFC side of the playoff bracket. The 49ers haven’t had a week off since Week 4 — in late September. Earning a first-round bye with their riveting win over the Seahawks in Week 17 will do the 49ers a world good as banged-up veterans such as Emmanuel Sanders get extra time to recover and get healthy, while their first opponent won’t have that benefit.

And speaking of their first opponent in the playoffs, it won’t be the Saints or the Packers — the next-best teams in the conference. Green Bay is the No. 2 seed and also has a bye. New Orleans is the No. 3 seed and would automatically visit the Packers in the divisional round should it beat Minnesota this weekend. That leaves the 49ers to face the Seahawks, Eagles or Vikings.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the 49ers to win the Super Bowl would return a profit of $40 should the 49ers win the game.

The Eagles are a nice story of perseverance and overcoming injuries, but they’re too banged up to make a deep run in the playoffs with Carson Wentz being their only consistent source of offense. Seattle isn’t as good as its record — the Seahawks have only one win by more than one possession but three losses by at least two touchdowns.

The Vikings are an interesting team, but Kirk Cousins can’t be trusted on the big stage. Plus a deeper look at Minnesota’s schedule shows the Vikings beat only one opponent that finished with a winning record. In other words, they beat up on lesser teams and lost to their tougher foes.

On top of the playoff bracket, the 49ers are one of the most consistent and proven teams in the postseason. They lost in overtime to the Seahawks before beating them in Week 17, lost by three points on the road to the Ravens and were upset by the Falcons at the last second in Week 15 with a decimated secondary.

 

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa is a big reason why the 49ers are looking down at the rest of the NFC playoff field. (Photo credit: Stan Szeto – USA TODAY Sports)

When healthy, the 49ers have a terrifying defense that’s outstanding at all three levels — from the pass rush with Nick Bosa to the linebackers with Fred Warner to the secondary with Richard Sherman.

On offense, their relentless ground game with the three-headed running-back monster of Raheem Mostert, Matt Breida and Tevin Coleman helps balance the offense with Jimmy Garoppolo behind center. As long as Garoppolo doesn’t fold under pressure, the 49ers will be in good shape.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan has the smarts to outduel even the best defensive masterminds — including Pete Carroll and Mike Zimmer. He has a golden opportunity to lead the 49ers to the Super Bowl, where a rematch with the Ravens could ensue.

Talent and coaching win in the playoffs, and the 49ers have both. Feel good about putting money on the 49ers to win it all in February.

Want action on this bet? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @camdasilva and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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