Betting Odds
The New York Giants and the Minnesota Vikings will battle it out at TCF Bank Stadium to close-out Sunday’s action in Week 16 of the regular season. The kickoff for this NFC clash is slated for 8:30 p.m. (ET) and the game will be broadcast nationally on NBC.
The Giants have been snake-bit this season when it comes to winning tight games and they paid a steep price in this past Sunday’s heart-breaking 38-35 loss to undefeated Carolina after erasing a 21-point deficit in the fourth quarter of that game. They did manage to cover as 4.5-point home underdogs and the total went OVER the 46-point closing line. New York is 4-2 against the spread over its last six games and the total has gone OVER in six of its last eight games.
Give credit to New York quarterback Eli Manning for making it a game against Carolina in the fourth quarter. He ended that contest with 245 yards passing and four scoring strikes including one touchdown throw to his favorite target Odell Beckham Jr. Along with the fact that Beckham has been suspended by the NFL for this game, one of the biggest problems with the Giants all season long has been a defense that has been gouged for a ton of yards and quite of few points in the fourth quarter of several games this year. Overall, this unit is ranked dead-last in the NFL in both passing and total yards allowed and it is 23rd in points allowed (25.6).
The Vikings posted a huge 38-17 victory against Chicago this past Sunday as four-point home favorites to remain a game in back of Green Bay in the NFC North title race at 9-5 SU. They have been one of the top betting teams in the NFL this season at 11-3 ATS and they have now covered in three of their last four games. The total went OVER 44 against the Bears after staying UNDER in five of their previous seven games.
Minnesota has gone with a very basic formula this season to move back into solid playoff contention. It continues to pound the ball on the ground behind the running of Adrian Peterson and its defense is ranked seventh in the league in points allowed (19.4). Peterson has already rushed for 1,314 yards while averaging 4.6 yards a carry and the Vikings as a whole are posting 131.6 rushing yards a game, which is the fifth-highest total in the league. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has thrown for 2,964 yards and 13 touchdowns, while completing a solid 66.2 percent of his 403 attempts.
The Giants are 6-2-1 ATS in their last nine road games and the total has gone OVER in eight of their last 12 games played on the road.
The Vikings have won eight of their last 10 home games SU and they are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games played at home. The total has stayed UNDER in six of their last eight home games.
Head-to-head, New York has won four of its last six road games against Minnesota SU and it has a 5-1 road edge ATS. The total has stayed UNDER in five of the last seven meetings overall.
New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings Prediction
The Giants could be out of playoff contention by the time this game is played if Washington beats Philadelphia on Saturday night, but even if they are still alive in the NFC East title race it will be tough to come away with a SU road win against the Vikings. What I do like is New York’s chances to cover with the six points even if Beckham remains out of the lineup. This team still has a way of keeping games close to the end and that should be the case again this Sunday night.
