NFL Betting Odds
Sports Edge's football betting
preview of all 32 teams continues with the NFC
North's Minnesota Vikings. Minnesota is 40:1 to
win the Super Bowl, 25:1 to win the NFC Championship,
and 10:3 to win the NFC North. The Vikings finished
last year with a 9-7 record.
Schedule
Minnesota’s 2006 opponents
had a record of 117-139 in 2005. That is tied
for the 3rd easiest schedule in the NFC. The Vikings
get their bye-week after Week 5. Minnesota opens
their schedule at Washington on the early Monday
Night game.
Washington is just under
a touchdown favorite at -6.5. The Vikings have
three games in prime-time. That is surprising
as the team has lost a lot of its appeal with
Randy Moss and Daunte Culpepper departing the
last two years.
Sports Edge Analysis
Quarterback, Brad Johnson
did a very good job filling in for an injured
Daunte Culpepper last year. The question is whether
Johnson is still a playoff caliber quarterback
in his 15th NFL season. Tarvaris Jackson was drafted
in the second round out of Alabama State, but
this year will be a learning one for him.
Johnson’s specialty
as a signal caller is accuracy and decision making.
That will have to continue as projected starting
wide-outs, Koren Robinson and Troy Williamson,
have not made anyone forget Moss.
Now, things are even worse
as Robinson had a drunk-driving incident and his
playing status is uncertain. There is good depth
behind those two in Marcus Robinson and Travis
Taylor, but no one really stands out.
One player being counted
on for a big year is running back Chester Taylor.
Taylor comes over from Baltimore and this is his
first chance to be a full-time starter. Mewelde
Moore is an excellent third down back and spot
starter, and between these two, the position is
more than adequately covered.
Minnesota’s offensive
line got a big boost with the signing of Seattle
All-Pro guard, Steve Hutchinson. Putting him next
to tackle Bryant McKinnie makes for an imposing
combination. The right side has Artis Hicks at
guard and Marcus Johnson at tackle. Matt Birk
is back at center after missing all of 2005, and
he is a former four-time All-Pro.
Minnesota’s defense
was 11th in the NFC in yards allowed last year,
and 9th in points allowed. That is a major underachievement
given the talent level and the money spent on
the defensive unit.
The Vikings used first round
picks on defensive ends in 2004 and 2005, and
now Kenechi Udeze and Erasmus James need to start
reaching that potential. Kevin Williams is a very
good young defensive tackle and Pat Williams still
knows how to position that big body of his to
stop the run.
The Minnesota linebackers
needed some help, which is why they drafted Chad
Greenway in the first round. However, Greenway
hurt his knee and is out for the year. Now, E.J.
Henderson will start on the weak-side, Napoleon
Harris in the middle and Ben Leber on the strong
side.
The secondary is chalk full
of All-Pro talent with Antoine Winfield and Fred
Smoot at the corners, and Darren Sharper at safety.
Former Saint and Buccaneer, Dwight Smith will
start at the other safety spot now that Tank Williams
is out for the year with a knee injury.
Prediction
New head coach, Brad Childress
has his work cut out for him. Childress is installing
the West Coast offense, and right now the running
game appears way ahead of the passing game.
The Vikings’
defense has a lot of talent, and coordinator Mike
Tomlin has to get the most out of them. Tomlin
comes over from Tampa Bay and brings the Cover
2 defense with him. It is going to take the team
time to adjust to all the system changes, and
it says here that the team struggles in 2006 with
a 7-9 mark.
Click any of the following
teams for their NFL 2006 Betting Previews
49ers
2006 Betting Preview
Rams
2006 Betting Preview
Cardinals
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Seahawks
2006 Betting Preview
Saints
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Falcons
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Buccaneers
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Panthers
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Packers
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Vikings
2006 Betting Preview
Lions
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Bears
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Eagles
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Redskins
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Giants
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Cowboys
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Raiders
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Chargers
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Broncos
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Chiefs
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Texans
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Titans
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Jaguars
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Colts
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Browns
2006 Betting Preview
Ravens
2006 Betting Preview
Bengals
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Steelers
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Patriots
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Dolphins
2006 Betting Preview
Jets
2006 Betting Preview
Bills
2006 Betting Preview
Posted by miker at August
21, 2006 07:12 AM
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