Last Updated on July 30, 2010 12:46 am by Anthony Rome
Vikings Season Odds
After falling short in the NFC Championship Game last year, the Minnesota Vikings are looking to regroup and make a Super Bowl push in 2010. But will Brett Favre return?
As of this writing, Favre remains undecided about his football future, but all indications are that he’ll return for another season. Assuming he does come back, the Vikings will have the same offense that was successful in ’09 back for another postseason run (minus backup running back Chester Taylor, who signed a free agent deal with the Bears this offseason).
The Vikings targeted cornerback, defensive line, running back, linebacker and offensive line heading into April’s NFL draft. They wound up not having a first round pick, but they did have two selections in Round 2 and chose Virginia cornerback Chris Cook and bruising tailback Toby Gerhart from Stanford. In Round 4, Minnesota selected USC defensive end Everson Griffen, who was a top 25 talent, but had some off-field issues coming into the draft.
Oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com currently list the Vikings at 12/1 to win the 2011 Super Bowl and 13/2 to win the NFC. They’re also +150 on the money line to win the NFC North Division and have an over/under win total of 9.5 games this season.
At 12/1, the Vikings are quite a bargain assuming Favre comes back. Adrian Peterson is one of the best talents in the game and benefits from playing in the same offense with a gunslinger like Favre, who has a legitimate No. 1 receiver in Sidney Rice. The Vikings’ offensive line is also outstanding, which certainly helps both Favre and Peterson.
Defensively, the Vikings have the best defensive line in football, which features madman Jared Allen, the productive Ray Edwards and the “Williams Wall,” of Pat Williams and Kevin Williams. E.J. Henderson, Antoine Winfield and Chad Greenway are all solid themselves, although the rest of the defense has some holes.
That said, the Vikes are primed to make another run. They’ll get stiff competition from the Packers in the NFC North and the Bears should be improved, but Minnesota is arguably still the team to beat. Their odds offer real value, so jump on them now before Favre actually stops his will-he-or-won’t-he retirement dance.
2011 Super Bowl Odds: Minnesota Vikings 12/1
Odds to win NFC: Minnesota Vikings 13/2
Odds to win NFC North: Minnesota Vikings +150
2010 NFL Season Win Totals: Minnesota Vikings O/U 9.5
Posted: 7/30/10 12:45AM ET