Dolphins Vikings Betting – Vikings Use Metrodome Crowd To Run Over Dolphins

Sports betting players watched Minnesota roll to a perfect record at home last season, and after a tough loss in their opener, they’ll be relieved to head back home, where they’ll face a Miami team that showed their toughness in a hard-fought win last week. The Vikings’ crowd will be looking to spark their team to a victory in the Metrodome, and Minnesota will also be boosted by a strong running game.

• What: NFL betting
• When: Sunday, September 19th, 1:00 PM ET
• Where: Metrodome
• Pick: Minnesota Vikings -5.5

What’s On The Line

The Dolphins (1-0) pulled out a 15-10 victory in Buffalo in their opening week, although it probably should have been by a bigger margin. The Vikings (0-1) were beaten 14-9 in New Orleans last Thursday in what was a far more defensive game than anyone thought. The Vikings were phenomenal at the Metrodome last season, going 8-0 in the regular season and 1-0 in the playoffs, and they’ll be banking on their home crowd to get them back under wraps.

Offensive Matchups: Dolphins Vikings Betting

The Dolphins had 296 yards of offense in an unspectacular showing, although you have to give some credit to the Buffalo defense for not allowing Miami to go down the field. Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams had 65 and 62 yards, respectively, and that’s the kind of balance that Miami wants in their ground game. Brandon Marshall had eight catches, but just 53 yards. He and Chad Henne will develop an understanding over time.

The Vikings had just 253 yards offensively, and Brett Favre didn’t look sharp at all, going 15-of-27 for 171 yards, a touchdown and a pick. He didn’t take the beating that he did in the NFC championship game in New Orleans, but Favre looked kind of tentative in the pocket, and that could be caused by the absence of Sidney Rice, who will be out at least half the season with a hip injury. Adrian Peterson had 87 yards on 19 carries, and he may become the focal point of the offense, as he was before Favre arrived.

Betting Edge: Draw

Miami held Buffalo to 166 yards, but again, the Buffalo offense isn’t that great and shouldn’t have been expected to get 300 yards against the Dolphins. Still, it was an encouraging performance, especially by linebacker Karlos Dansby, who had eight tackles, a sack, and was a general nuisance in his regular-season debut for Miami. However, the Vikings pose a whole new set of problems for the Dolphins.

Minnesota definitely held their own against the high-powered Saints, giving up 308 yards, but they stopped New Orleans on eight of 11 third-down chances. Linebacker Chad Greenway had 12 tackles to pace the defense, but the secondary did a great job of holding the Saints’ weapons in check. The Vikings get the edge here because they played against a much tougher offense on the road.

Betting Edge: Vikings

Notable Injuries: Dolphins Vikings Betting

The Dolphins managed to get through the first week unscathed, for the most part.

The Vikings should have rookie running back Toby Gerhart (knee) in the lineup, but cornerback Chris Cook (knee) will probably sit at least another week.

Betting Edge: Dolphins

Outlook And Pick: Dolphins Vikings Betting

NFL betting odds have the Vikings as a 5.5-point favorite at home, and the Dolphins have lost all three of their trips to the Metrodome, although the last game was a 20-17 loss in 2002. We’re betting on the Vikings to improve at home, where they were so good last year, The Dolphins played in a tough environment in Buffalo last week, but it’s nothing like the Metrodome. Look for Favre and the Vikings to use Peterson and Percy Harvin to take them to a much-needed win in your online betting book.

Stan’s Pick: Minnesota Vikings -5.5