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In most NFL seasons, the Minnesota Vikings would have had plenty to win the NFC North and make a run at the Super Bowl. But not this year’s NFC. The Vikings finished 10-6, mostly limping into the playoffs having lost three of their past five games. They’ll be the No. 6 seed for Wild Card weekend and are forced to go on the road to face the New Orleans Saints in a rematch of the Minneapolis Miracle. How far Minnesota goes this postseason is on the shoulders of RB Dalvin Cook and QB Kirk Cousins. If Cousins can limit mistakes and Cook is healthy, the Vikings have a chance to make some noise.
Odds to get to and win Super Bowl 54
To reach Super Bowl 54: +1600
To win Super Bowl 54: +3300
The Vikings have the worst odds to come out of the NFC and make the Super Bowl. This isn’t all that surprising considering how stacked the conference is. The two teams closest to them in odds are the Philadelphia Eagles and Seattle Seahawks, two teams that have won it all recently. Minnesota is third-worst in terms of odds to win Super Bowl 54, ahead of the Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans.
It’s not like the Vikings can’t do it, but they’d need Cousins to make plays in the passing game and the secondary to perform better. Overall the Vikings have gotten by this season with one of the top backs in Cook and one of the best run defenses. Those two things can carry some teams, but it’s unlikely it’ll get the Vikings all the way to Miami.
Super Bowl 54 matchup odds
These are some of the most uncommon matchups in the Super Bowl. The bottom three: vs. the Texans, Titans and Bills are extremely steep and very unlikely to happen — but anything’s possible right? Vikings-Patriots is an interesting play. New England is going to get a lot of love from bettors this week before the playoffs start.
Vikings vs. Ravens: +3300
Vikings vs. Chiefs: +5000
Vikings vs. Patriots: +12500
Vikings vs. Texans: +35000
Vikings vs. Titans: +45000
Vikings vs. Bills: +50000
Exact Super Bowl 54 outcome odds
These are a little bit surprising when you look at them. For whatever reason the books think the outcome of the Vikings somehow knocking off the Ravens or Chiefs is more likely than the Patriots and Vikings both making it to Super Bowl 54 and the Pats winning. Again, I see decent value in that line at +17500. But realistically these are some of the more unlikely outcomes for the playoffs and that’s why the odds are so steep.
Ravens beat Vikings +4000
Chiefs beat Vikings +7000
Vikings beat Ravens +8500
Vikings beat Chiefs +12500
Patriots beat Vikings +17500
Vikings beat Patriots +30000
Vikings beat Texans +50000
Vikings beat Titans +60000
Texans beat Vikings +75000
Vikings beat Bills +75000
Bills beat Vikings +100000
Titans beat Vikings +100000
Super Bowl 54 MVP odds
Again, it’s very unlikely we see the Vikings make it all the way to the Super Bowl, but if they do, I like the value in Cook, Diggs and Thielen here. Books overvalue QBs in the whole MVP scenario because they’ve got the ball in their hands all game. But I think if the Vikings are making a run to SB54, it’s on the back of Cook and he’s be my favorite from Minnesota to win the award. Diggs and Thielen are good value as well, both have the potential to put up huge numbers depending on the matchup.
Kirk Cousins +5000
Dalvin Cook +10000
Stefon Diggs +25000
Adam Thielen +25000
Eric Kendricks +50000
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