Last season recap
The 2015 season was one of defying NFL betting online odds for the Minnesota Vikings. They finished 11-5, improving upon the previous season’s 7-9 record. Moreover, the Vikings qualified for the postseason for the first time since 2012, and won a NFC North division championship for the first time since 2012. Unfortunately, they lost the playoffs wild card round to the Seattle Seahawks 10-9 when kicker Blair Walsh missed a 27-yard field goal in the dying seconds of the game that might have given Minnesota the win. Nevertheless, a not unimpressive comeback campaign for the Vikings.
What’s New
The 2016 NFL season will be the Vikings’ 56th in the league and 3rd with head coach Mike Zimmer, as well as their first playing in the new U.S. Bank Stadium. Minnesota had the 23rd pick in each of the first four rounds of the 2016 draft, and that could very well be their new lucky number, especially as it pertains to their first and second round choices – wide receiver Laquon Treadwell and CB Mackensie Alexander, both NCAA standouts with two of the best college football teams today, Ole Miss and Clemson. Treadwell left Mississippi as the all-time reception leader with 202 across three seasons. Additionally, he was a Third-team All-American and First-team All-SEC in 2015, and the 2013 SEC Freshman of the Year. And Alexander was an essential part of the Fighting Tigers during his freshman and sophomore seasons. He received First-team All-ACC, Third-team All-American, and Freshman All-American honors in 2014 and 2015.
What to expect
Even though the Vikings enter the 2016 as the defending NFC North title-holders, they are only the second NFL betting online favorite in football betting sites to win the division this year, behind the Green Bay Packers – but then again, that was the exact same case last year. Head coach Zimmer has signed a contract extension to stay in Minnesota, so Vikings fans can expect a continuation of the two-season process that saw the team return to the playoffs and wrest the NFC North title away from presumed division champions the Packers. All things considered, expectations are running high for the Vikings, in terms of winning a second straight divisional title and making it even farther into the postseason. Zimmer has built the Vikings to his likings, such as boosting the secondary with the likes of Harrison Smith, Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, and the aforementioned Alexander. However, it is Treadwell could be a true asset in an area where Minnesota needs to improve in order to have a real NFL betting online shot. At 6’2” and 221 lbs, the wide receiver has the size and power to become a hard-to-miss target for QB Teddy Bridgewater – and one he can add to Stefon Diggs. And with running back Adrian Peterson out of the doghouse and still playing at an All-Star level, Bridgewater doesn’t have to carry the whole team on his back and should have more freedom to make his plays.
Odds to win Super Bowl 51: +2500
