The Minnesota Vikings may have fallen one step short of reach Super Bowl 52 last season, but after landing one of the most coveted players on the free agent market this offseason, the reigning NFC North champions will hit 2018 with some very legitimate hopes of going one step further than they did a year ago.
No matter how the Vikings fare this coming campaign, you should know that there are a handful of outstanding matchups on Minnesota’s 2018 docket that you just shouldn’t miss out on seeing – and wagering on. Here’s my take on Minnesota’s must bet games in 2018.
Minnesota Vikings 2018 NFL Betting Guide
The #Vikings have compiled one of the league’s top rosters for 2018.
📰: https://t.co/3Nro48wdWz pic.twitter.com/2aPzCiOGY8 — Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) June 29, 2018
Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 9, vs. San Francisco 49ers, 1 p.m. ET
The 49ers won their final five games in 2017 with Jimmy Garoppolo at quarterback, but the Niners aren’t getting the win against Minnesota, seeing as how their defense ranked a stellar first overall, second against the pass, second against the run and first in points allowed (15.8 ppg).
NFL Betting Pick: Vikings 27 49ers 17
Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 16, at Green Bay Packers, 1 p.m. ET
The Vikings swept the Packers last season and they knocked Aaron Rodgers out for basically the entire season when they met in Green Bay in Week 6. While I’m expecting Rodgers to make it through this affair, Minnesota is now simply the better team in all three phases!
NFL Betting Pick: Vikings 24 Packers 21
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 23, vs. Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m. ET
The foolish Bills just couldn’t wait to part ways with veteran signal-caller Tyrod Taylor. Now they’re going with either, unproven veteran backup AJ McCarron or second-year signal-caller Nathan Peterman. Yeah, that won’t work out too well in this one!
NFL Betting Pick: Packers 35 Bills 17
Week 4: Thursday, Sept. 27, at Los Angeles Rams, 8:20 p.m. ET
The Rams will be looking for revenge against the Vikings in this Thursday Night Football showdown after losing to their conference rivals 24-7 in Week 11 last season. I like L.A. to extract their revenge!
NFL Betting Pick: Rams 23 Vikings 21
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 7, at Philadelphia Eagles, 4:25 p.m. ET
Minnesota will be out for some serious revenge after suffering an embarassing 38-7 smackdown loss to Philly in the NFC Championship game. Unfortunately, they won’t get their revenge even with new starting quarterback Kirk Cousins under center! Philly holds it down for the much closer win this time around.
NFL Betting Pick: Eagles 21 Vikings 20
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 28, vs. New Orleans Saints, 8:20 p.m. ET
The Vikings needed what is now known as the Minneapolis Miracle to get past New Orleans 29-24 in the NFC Divisional playoffs last season. I’m thinking turnabout is fair play in this one!
NFL Betting Pick: Saints 27 Vikings 24
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 4, vs. Detroit Lions, 1 p.m. ET
The Lions handed the Vikings their only home loss last season. Um…that’s not happening this time around as Cousins shreds Detroit’s defense to tiny little pieces!
NFL Betting Pick: Vikings 31 Lions 20
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 18, at Chicago Bears, 1 p.m. ET
The Vikes swept the Bears a year ago and I believe they’re going to repeat their feat from last season by getting the road win in this Week 11 matchup against their really longtime division rivals.
NFL Betting Pick: Vikings 35 Bears 17
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 25, vs. Green Bay Packers, 8:20 p.m. ET
Break out the brooms, Minnesota is good for the regular season sweep in this affair!
NFL Betting Pick: Vikings 30 Packers 23
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 2, at New England Patriots, 4:25 p.m. ET
I like Minnesota’s powerful defense to batter and beat up on New England’s Tom Brady in this one to get the statement-making road win against the Patriots,
NFL Betting Pick: Vikings 24 Patriots 21
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 16, vs. Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m. ET
How do you say easy pickings? Minnesota smacks around Miami’s Ryan Tannehill in this one to cruise to victory!
NFL Betting Pick: Vikings 35 Dolphins 14
