2017 Minnesota Vikings Season Win Total Picks
2016 Record: 8-8
2017 Las Vegas Season Win Total: 8.5
2017 Season Win Total Pick: 'Over'
Things went sideways awfully quick for the Vikings last year. Hopes were high coming off their 2015 playoff appearance. But then Teddy Bridgewate r's leg exploded in the preseason and sent this squad scrambling. They managed to find a capable replacement on the fly with Sam Bradford and actually started the season 5-0. But then Mike Zimmer's eye issues flared up, offensive coordinator Norv Turner quit, injuries started to mount, and Minnesota was forced to drag its carcass through a 3-8 close and a .500 record.
Now for the good news: the last team to start 5-0 and miss the playoffs made it to the Super Bowl the following season. That team was last year's Atlanta Falcons.
Bradford should be better now that he's had a full season within the organization. Don't be fooled by his NFL-record completion percentage last year. That was out of necessity. Minnesota's horrific offensive line couldn't protect him for more than a two- or three-step drop. That pathetic line also submarined the running game, so the Vikings were forced to make several changes in the offseason. How the line comes together will really be the determining factor for how this unit - and this team - performs this year.
Zimmer has seen his total defensive rank improve all three years he has been at the helm. And Minnesota fielded a group ranked No. 6 in points and No. 3 in yards last season. They will miss some of the veteran depth they benefitted from last year, but Minnesota's D should have another great season, led by All-Pro caliber players Anthony Barr and Harrison Smith. This side of the ball won't be their worry.
No, the worry is Bradford and the offensive line. If we assume that the line improves enough to be at least average then everything falls on Bradford. Can he stay healthy? And can he ever take the next step in his career and become a Pro Bowl-caliber signal caller? I mean, the guy was thrown into a completely unfamiliar situation and threw for 3,900 yards with 20 touchdown and five interceptions all while completing over 71 percent of his passes. What more can he do?
That's the question for this team: what more can Bradford do? If he plays like he did last year they will win 10 games and go back to the playoffs. If he gets hurt or if he steps back then this team will underachieve again. But if Bradford can do just a little more - particularly in late-game and clutch situations, never his forte - then this team has a chance to be special. I know I'm in the minority of analysts that actually likes Bradford. But I feel like at some point in his career it is all going to click. So my question now is "why not this year"? Play 'over'.
Vikings Regular Season Schedule (All times Eastern)
Week |
Date |
Kickoff (CT) |
Opponent |
1 |
11-Sep |
6:10 p.m. |
New Orleans Saints |
2 |
17-Sep |
12:00 p.m. |
at Pittsburgh Steelers |
3 |
24-Sep |
12:00 p.m. |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
4 |
1-Oct |
12:00 p.m. |
Detroit Lions |
5 |
9-Oct |
7:30 p.m. |
at Chicago Bears |
6 |
15-Oct |
12:00 p.m. |
Green Bay Packers |
7 |
22-Oct |
12:00 p.m. |
Baltimore Ravens |
8 |
29-Oct |
8:30 a.m. |
at Cleveland Browns |
9 |
5-Nov |
|
Bye |
10 |
12-Nov |
12:00 p.m. |
at Washington Redskins |
11 |
19-Nov |
12:00 p.m. |
Los Angeles Rams |
12 |
23-Nov |
11:30 a.m. |
at Detroit Lions |
13 |
3-Dec |
12:00 p.m. |
at Atlanta Falcons |
14 |
10-Dec |
12:00 p.m. |
at Carolina Panthers |
15 |
17-Dec |
12:00 p.m. |
Cincinnati Bengals |
16 |
23-Dec |
7:30 p.m. |
at Green Bay Packers |
17 |
31-Dec |
12:00 p.m. |
Chicago Bears |
Robert Ferringo has been the top football handicapper in the country the past five years, earning nearly $14,000 in total football profit. He has also posted five of seven winning seasons (including a winning 2016-17) and Robert tallied over $20,000 in football profit between 2011 and 2016, including his amazing 2013 NFL season in which he hit 62.1 percent (95-58). Robert has produced 18 of 29 winning football months and an amazing 41 of 64 winning football months over the past decade. Robert has eight of 10 winning NFL preseasons and he is at nearly 60 percent winners over his last 800 totals picks. Also, Robert's proprietary KING College Football Betting System has posted three of five winning seasons Robert is looking to follow up a winning 2016 with more profit this fall. SIGN UP HERE TODAY AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR EARLY BIRD SPECIALS !
We are offering new clients $60 in free college football picks for Robert's picks or any Advisory Board handicapper of your choosing. Get your free college football picks now !
Read more articles by Robert Ferringo
Most Recent NFL Handicapping
- Best NFL Teaser Bets Week 15: Basic Strategy Teasers
- Week 16 NFL Odds - Lookahead Lines - Picks & Best Bet Predictions
- Team to Finish with NFL Worst Record? Odds and Predictions
- NFL Betting Predictions: Week 15 Opening Line Report and Picks
- Six Times Smack Talk Backfired in the NFL
- NFL Conference Championships Best Bets and Odds for AFC and NFC
- Week 15 NFL Odds - Lookahead Lines - Picks & Best Bet Predictions
- NFL Betting Predictions: Week 14 Opening Line Report and Picks
- Seven NFL Teams That Went from Champs to Chumps in One Season
- Week 14 NFL Odds - Lookahead Lines - Picks & Best Bet Predictions