MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Over or Under: The Minnesota Vikings were 7-8-1 O/U last season. They started the season with 4 straight under games, then were 6-2-1 O/U over their next 9 games, finishing the season under the total in 2 of their last 3. It seems that the oddsmakers were once again trying to catch bettors in a pattern. Over the last 4 seasons the Vikings are 30-35 O/U. But looking at their totals over that time span, the Vikings are very streaky often going for 3-4 games at a time, hitting the over or under consistently.
Against the Spread: Last season the Vikings were 7-9 ATS, but for a while it looked like the books were just as surprised with the Vikings success as the betting public was. The Vikings started off 4-2 SU, and a superb 5-1 ATS. But things quickly fell into place, as Minnesota bombed the bottom two thirds of the season, finishing 2-8 ATS and SU. In 2005, the Vikings were streaky, starting off slow (2-5 ATS) before finishing hot (7-2 ATS). Over the last 4 years, Minnesota is 31-33-2 ATS with at least 5 streaks of 3 or more wins against the spread and 4 streaks of 3 or more losses. They seem to win them in bunches.
Straight Up: As I said above, the Vikings started off fairly well, beating the Redskins, Panthers, Lions, and Seahawks on their way to 4 early season wins, while nearly upsetting the Chicago Bears. But the end of the year wasn’t so good. After 4 wins in 6 games, it took the 5 games before their next win. They finished 2-8 to end the season. Their late plunge was opposite of their 2005 season. In ’05 the Vikings started off with 2 wins in their first 7 games before going on a 6 game winning streak, and eventually finishing just out of the playoff picture at 9-7. Over the last 4 seasons, the Vikings are 33-33, dead even.
500 Vikings: There could be a movie, but it just wouldn’t be very interesting. It would be pretty dull, with wins and losses right about the same, ATS record a twitch here or there from being even, and an O/U consistency that is, well, average. The Vikings haven’t impressed in any one gambling area, except for the fact that they are usually just as good as they are bad. As an underdog over the last 4 seasons, the Vikings 12-14-1 ATS, a very average 10-18 SU, and 13-14 O/U. As a favorite, they are 20-19-1 ATS, and a very normal 25-16 SU. The Vikings are 33-33 over the past 4 seasons with 2 playoff appearances.
