Giants vs Vikings Odds, Preview: Minnesota Favored in NFC Playoff Matchup
Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images. Pictured: Justin Jefferson (left), K.J. Osborn (right).
Giants vs. Vikings Odds
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Channel: FOX
| Giants Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3 -120 | 47.5 -110o / -110u | +126 |
| Vikings Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3 -102 | 47.5 -110o / -110u | -148 |
In possibly the most uninspiring NFL playoff matchup, the Vikings are laying a field goal to the Giants in the NFC Wild Card Round.
Minnesota won the NFC North but isn't exactly entering the playoffs at the peak of its powers. Meanwhile, the Giants took the week off and rested key players in Week 18 against the Eagles.
Giants vs. Vikings Matchup Analysis
Toggle the dropdowns below to hide or show how the Giants and Vikings match up statistically:
Giants vs. Vikings DVOA Breakdown (Rankings Entering Week 18)
 | Offense | Defense |  Edge |
| Overall DVOA | 12 | 25 | |
| Pass DVOA | 10 | 26 | |
| Rush DVOA | 8 | 16 | |
| Offense | Defense | Edge |
| Overall DVOA | 20 | 29 | |
| Pass DVOA | 17 | 23 | |
| Rush DVOA | 28 | 32 | |
Anthony Dabbundo's Team Breakdowns
New York Giants
Even the most optimistic Giants fan has to be a bit surprised to see Daniel Jones looking like a solid NFL quarterback and the Giants back in the playoffs. New York had plenty of fortune early in the season — the comebacks against the Ravens and Packers come to mind — but they earned this spot in the playoffs in a down year for the NFC.
The Giants are a well-coached team that has been competitive in almost every game this season. Now they get a road trip to Minnesota, a game that was just played on Christmas Eve.
In that game, Saquon Barkley had 14 carries for 84 yards and Jones threw for 334 yards. New York won the box score in that game with 6.7 yards per play, more total yards and the same number of first downs. The Giants lost because of a blocked punt and a last-second field goal from 61 yards.
The Giants have to like their chances of getting revenge on Minnesota in the Wild Card Round. They’re not on the level of the top three in the upper echelon in this conference and the defense has major holes in the secondary. But New York football fans have been starved of playoff showings and success for years and they couldn’t have asked for a better matchup given their middling record.
Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota enters the playoffs as one of the most fortunate teams in NFL history. It won every game this season decided by one possession.
The Vikings defense is 31st in the NFL in yards per play allowed and has gotten diced up by Mac Jones, Daniel Jones, Mike White and even Matt Ryan in the second half of the season. They implement a very passive defensive approach in an attempt to take away explosive plays. The result is that only five teams in the league allow more yards per drive than Minnesota.
The offense hasn’t really been that great either. The Vikings are 18th in yards per drive, worse than the Giants. They rank 14th in points per drive and 25th in net yards per drive. So when you look at the components that go into being a good NFL team week in and week out, the Vikings don’t really have any of the ingredients.
Minnesota has gotten incredible timing on key turnovers, big plays and close game bounces. They’ve pulled off comeback after comeback but also got handled four times by Detroit, Dallas, Philadelphia and Green Bay.
Given the spreads on their two road games against Green Bay and Detroit in the second half, the market is well aware that Minnesota is actually the third-best team in the division. Maybe the Vikings keep winning every game by one score, but history suggests a quick exit. A 12-4 record while being outscored is hard to fathom.
How would you rate this article?
Follow Us On Social
