ESPN FPI has Vikings as heavy favorites

[conner01]

While it's certainly possible that Minnesota could win at home...the current number one defense (Ravens) simply had no answer for the Cowboy's offense after 12:23 of the second quarter...resulting in five consecutive scoring drives and never punting again the entire game. That Ravens run defense is better than the 2000 edition...only their pass defense is weaker. Dallas already disposed of them and the Eagles at number three. Minnesota currently sits sixth on total defense. Crowd noise will definitely be a factor.

The key to me is turnovers. They are good at creating turn overs and that gives them short fields
If we can protect the ball that will force them to drive the length of the field to get points
They also have good ST's for not letting them hurt us is another important aspect
Bradford can't beat us with 75 yard drives do if we can protect the ball we win

 

[BigStar]

That much I know, I'm wondering how betting affects the line,,, seems like if a lot of betters are betting against the favorites then they would make the point difference bigger,,, ?

By keeping it close they are playing the odds for both outcomes; that's why you see them tend to lessen the range of over/under before gametime. I'm not some booky or anything either; just what I know from Cyber Bob tbh. I only play poker and gamble on sports impulsively and definitely doesn't prevent people from winning big if they know what they're doing. Just doesn't seem to hurt the bottom line evidently due to the bets offsettings themselves?

 

[jobberone]

Hard to win in Min but also hard to win in Pit. This isn't a slam dunk but we should win the game.

 

[roughneck266]

Ravens had the NFL's #1 defense and we handled it just fine, but we're supposed to be scared of Minny's D or something.

How many times are we going to have to listen to this same song?

16 times a year. Up to 19 in a good year.

 

[T-RO]

We should go run heavy until they prove they can stop it. I don't think they'll be able to stop the run any more than the Ravens were.

We should stay balanced. Running heavy early was ineffective against Ravens and will be ineffective here.

Against Baltimore we punted our first 3 possessions and our run game was throttled.

 

[LatinMind]

I think this is going to be a very tough game for us to win. But I am not going to be bet against this group of Cowboys.

anybody that has even been listening to whts happening in MIN should know this is just another avg team who is worse now with their injuries. Dallas by atleast 13. Dallas has been dominating on def against the run, and MIN has no WRs. Their def is banged up. IM not going to say blowout but its just a mismatch for the Cowboys. Think u people need to stop listening to the media which u say you guys hate because they are so biased against Dallas but still live for their reports and predictions.

 

[Supercowboy1986]

This is odd. I get that Minnesota is a difficult place to play. But it seems odd that a team that's basically nosedived losing 5 out of 6 would be favored, by any index, over the best team in the league that's won 10 straight.

I was thinking the same exact thing.

 

[CWR]

Fun fact: our next two games are against the 2 teams that are dead last in the league at running the ball.

Not kidding. These offenses are so out of balance it isn't even funny.

http://www.nfl.com/stats/categoryst..._YARDS_PER_GAME_AVG&d-447263-o=2&d-447263-n=1

Wow, talk about one dimensional. Amazing that these teams have a winning record.

 

[Tass]

Hey, remember when the Bengals were supposed to give us fits with their defensive line?

How about The Packers having the #1 run defense when we went to play them?

Then Philly's D would stop us.

Look out for that mighty Ravens defense!

We win all those games and now the pundits say "That Vikings defense is the truth. Dallas is going to get beat."

 

[Joe Realist]

Man, Wentz has really taken a dive, hasn't he?

Please..Don't start. He will be very good, maybe great. If he was here, he would be toast of NFL. The only thing making it bearable is that Dak has played so well. It will be Dak versus Wentz for years. If Wentz flames out, that is fine by me.

 

[irishline]

Huh? What's relative? Lol

No offence to anyone from West Virginia of course.

 

[Maxmadden]

We should stay balanced. Running heavy early was ineffective against Ravens and will be ineffective here.

Against Baltimore we punted our first 3 possessions and our run game was throttled.

We should just come out passing to set up the run.

 

[USMarineVet]

 

[Maxmadden]

Please..Don't start. He will be very good, maybe great. If he was here, he would be toast of NFL. The only thing making it bearable is that Dak has played so well. It will be Dak versus Wentz for years. If Wentz flames out, that is fine by me.

I won't disagree with you but he has done nothing to suggest he will be great or good. He hasn't displayed the "IT" factor and that is all that matters at this point.

 

[Q_the_man]

While it's certainly possible that Minnesota could win at home...the current number one defense (Ravens) simply had no answer for the Cowboy's offense after 12:23 of the second quarter...resulting in five consecutive scoring drives and never punting again the entire game. That Ravens run defense is better than the 2000 edition...only their pass defense is weaker. Dallas already disposed of them and the Eagles at number three. Minnesota currently sits sixth on total defense. Crowd noise will definitely be a factor.

What are u smoking, this years Ravens Defense has nothing on the 2000 Raven defense and it's not even close. That Raven defense was one of the best ever, this year's Ravens D is not on that level against the pass or run.

 

[StylisticS]

He could add some spark, but when your 31st in a league of 32 teams running the ball, I don't think missing just 1 guy is the problem.

Yep. They simply can't run the football. They struggled running against Cleveland.

 

[DTown214]

This might be our easiest win of the year outside of the Browns and Bears games.

 

[lukin2006]

I heard Vereen may be coming back for the giants game, hes a good runner theyre missing

I'm hopeful Pittsburgh will do us a favour on Sunday...

 

[manster4ever]

This topic has as much weight is the media predicting Hillary winning.

NONE.

She did...by 2.5 million votes: and counting.

 

[conner01]

What are u smoking, this years Ravens Defense has nothing on the 2000 Raven defense and it's not even close. That Raven defense was one of the best ever, this year's Ravens D is not on that level against the pass or run.

The ravens have a good defense, the 2000 ravens was a great defense. To me a defense is about points given up and while this years D is good they have given up something 35 more points so far than they did the entire 2000 season