NFL football betting - Philly heads to Minnesota for Wild-Card showdown
Offshore sportsbook odds: Eagles riding momentum after crushing Cowboys
- WHO: Philadelphia Eagles (-3) at Minnesota Vikings
- WHAT: NFL playoff betting
- WHEN: Sunday, January 4, 2009 at 4:30 p.m. ET
- WHERE: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, MN
- KEY STATS: Eagles have won five of last six meetings; Eagles are 8-4 against the spread vs conference opponents this season; Vikings are 3-5 as an underdog outright and against the spread this season
- PICK: Eagles (-3)
Of all the NFC playoff hopefuls heading into Week 17, the Eagles (9-6-1) seemed like the biggest long shot of all for online sports betting players. Now they’re a three-point favorite on the road against the NFC North Division champion Minnesota Vikings (10-6). Yep, a lot can happen in one week of NFL betting action.
While they’ll never be mistaken for consistent by those who bet online, the Eagles certainly picked the right time to peak. They won four of their last five games, with two of those wins coming against division winners (the Giants and Cardinals). Most impressive was their 44-6 shellacking of the disappointing Dallas Cowboys last week.
Ultimately, the Eagles have looked more Jekyll than Hyde over the last few weeks. Though Donovan McNabb is aging and losing the faith of many online sports betting players, he still leads a passing attack ranking in the NFL’s top 10. Head coach Andy Reid’s pass-heavy Philly squad thus matches up well against a Vikings team that ranked 18th in the league in pass defense this season. Sure, they won’t move the ball on the ground against Minnesota, the no. 1 run defense in the NFL. But that may not matter come Sunday.
Whereas Vikings are strong in one facet of defense, the Eagles excel everywhere, ranking third against the pass and fourth against the run. They allow an outstanding 178 yards through the air on the road. That doesn’t bode well at all for anyone planning to bet online on the Vikings, who still can’t seem to decide on a starting quarterback. Whether it’s Gus Frerotte or Tarvaris Jackson getting the nod Sunday, the Vikes will be in tough.
Minnesota’s aerial struggles will allow Philly to stack the box against Adrian Peterson, who led the NFL in rushing but has fumbled five times in his last four games.
STAN’S PICK: All season long, NFL betting fans assumed the Eagles couldn’t excel unless Brian Westbrook was healthy. He still seems hobbled, yet they still demolished the Cowboys last week. Maybe Donovan McNabb isn’t finished after all. While the Vikings won five of their last six games, three of those wins came against non-playoff teams and they beat a Giants team that started backups in the second half last week. Bet online for the Eagles to continue their magic for one more week.
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Stan Simmons first tasted football through the college game, but his football handicapping has strictly focused on the professional sport. Not many people devote as much time to the NFL as Simmons. For six days a week he works, labors and handicaps the sport, and on the seventh he rests as the games play out. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.
