Oddsmakers Don't Expect Minnesota Vikings To Do Much In 2012

by Christopher Gates on Feb 6, 2012 1:30 PM CST in Minnesota Vikings 2012 Off-Season

Well, the 2011-12 NFL season has been over for roughly 12 hours now, which means it's time to start speculating on the 2012-13 season, obviously. The folks that set the betting odds. . .which you should use for entertainment purposes only, mind you. . .apparently don't think much of the Minnesota Vikings' chances next season, which shouldn't be surprising.

The Vikings have opened as 75-to-1 shots to win Super Bowl XLVII, according to the folks at Bovada. Those are the same odds being given to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the St. Louis Rams. The only teams that are given less of a chance at this point are the Cleveland Browns and the Jacksonville Jaguars, both of whom are listed at 100-to-1.

How does it look for the rest of the NFC North, the Green Bay Packers are the overall favorites at 5-to-1. . .and coming off of their brilliant post-season run, why wouldn't they be? Bovada has the Detroit Lions at 18-to-1, and they've got the Chicago Bears at 30-to-1. The New York Giants. . .you know, the team that just won the Super Bowl. . .are listed at 15-to-1, which puts them behind seven other teams.

Things get a little better if you check out the sportsbook at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. There, the Vikings are merely a 60-to-1 shot, giving them the same odds as the Oakland Raiders and the Arizona Cardinals. The teams behind them are Cleveland (75-to-1), Tampa Bay (100-to-1), the Washington Redskins (125-to-1), and Jacksonville (150-to-1). The MGM Grand has the New England Patriots as next year's favorites at 5-to-1, with the only team in NFL history to go at least 15-1 and not win a single playoff game right behind them at 11-to-2. The Giants are at 8-to-1 here, putting them behind four other teams. As far as the NFC North is concerned, the Bears are at 17-to-1 and the Lions are at 18-to-1.

So, the gambling community doesn't think much of the Minnesota Vikings' chances next season. But, as we're prone to say around here. . .

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Comments

Not gonna lie...

I glanced at the title and thought it said “Lawmakers don’t expect Minnesota Vikings to do much in 2012.”

Scared me for a sec.

by Purpledork on Feb 6, 2012 1:44 PM CST reply actions

I thought yours said "Lawnmakers"

I don’t even know what that means!

by cyberuck on Feb 6, 2012 11:40 PM CST up reply actions

The odds will change after free agency trades and the draft...

The Vikes will have to do some crazy serious work in both to get to 50-1 odds by June or July

by liveforadrenaline on Feb 6, 2012 1:47 PM CST reply actions

Wait just a minute there Mr. Chris Gates.

Mr Gates, I understand you hate the Packers. That is fine. You are a Viking fan and there is nothing wrong with that. However, they should be the early favorites if you look at the whole situation. Before I continue, let us talk about the playoff game. Two things. Number one, they picked the absolute worst time to play their worst game of the season. Number two, the lack of a pass rush and the Nick Collins injury finally cost them. People are not realizing how much the Nick Collins injury stung the Packers. The Collins injury stung more than the 14 season ending injuries last year, COMBINED. This defense is built to play the way it plays because of Nick Collins unique skill set. When Peprah took over, I can’t tell you how many times every game he was so badly out of position that he was probably the biggest reason for the Packers defensive issues this season. Nick Collins is probably finished playing football so Woodson is going move to safety next season and the Packers coaching staff has decided that rising star Sam Shields is ready to start at cornerback. Look for the Packers to makes some changes to the way the play defensively next season. Also look for Thompson to acquire either a 3-4 defensive end or a 4-3 outside linebacker in April with his first selection or two, whenever he makes those selections. I know you hate the Packers but good grief.

by Timothy Bryce on Feb 6, 2012 4:52 PM CST reply actions

Who gives a crap Timothy?

No offense guy but geez.

Build up your weaknesses until they become your strong points." --Knute Rockne

by abba7 on Feb 6, 2012 6:13 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

I was going to say something similar

But you were much more polite about it than I would have been. Gracias.

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by Christopher Gates on Feb 6, 2012 6:20 PM CST up reply actions

i would flip you off

but ill let AJ hawk do that in my stead.

by statue_left on Feb 6, 2012 8:39 PM CST via iPhone app up reply actions

Excuses, excuses

We all have them, but facts are facts, and Mr. Gates laid them out for you.

1. Packers are first team in NFL History to go 15-1 in the regular season and fail to win a playoff game.
2. Some sports betting sites don’t have the Packers as the consensus #1 for 2012 heading into the off-season.

I guess Packer fans will just have to learn how to deal with that in their own way. We all know Vikings fans have had plenty of issues to deal with this off-season. The last thing we need is a bunch of Packer fans coming over here and whining about the facts and making excuses.

Ponder. Peterson. Percy. Purple Perfection.

by CCNorsemen on Feb 6, 2012 10:36 PM CST up reply actions

Ok, so you might have a defense next year...

But the architect who put the offense that got you guys into the most embarrassing position possible (except maybe a perfect season only to be one and done) is now in Miami, and your receivers are getting old or potentially leaving. On top of it, nobody fears the GB running game, and Aaron Rodgers is terrible when opponents actually manage to pressure him without blitzing (or did you really think Kansas City was completely a fluke?). Prepare to have no offense next year as your team comes crashing back to earth for the next couple seasons.

Here’s my prediction: Next year, Green Bay finishes 3rd or 4th in the NFC North and misses the playoffs entirely.

by Mebera on Feb 7, 2012 12:01 AM CST up reply actions

Shows how little you know. The two architects of the Packers offense are Mike McCarthy and Tom Clements. Also, so you just expect young players coming into their prime to magically get worse? Geeze. What is wrong with you people?

by Timothy Bryce on Feb 7, 2012 12:36 PM CST up reply actions

yep, the offensive coordinator had no say in the offense that was run

or the differences between their style of play from 2010-2011. And for the record, the team was young when Favre had his last season there….while still not over the hill, they aren’t exactly “young” and therefore are hitting the top of the bell curve….and starting the decline. Really, when do you expect players to “age”? A lot of them have been around for 4-5 yrs or longer and are entering the second phase of their careers.

by Chris3 on Feb 7, 2012 12:50 PM CST up reply actions

The Green Bay Packers have the third youngest roster in the league. The age of the receivers. Greg Jennings-28, James Jones-27, Jordy Nelson-26, Randall Cobb-21, Jermicheal Finley- 24, Andrew Quarless-23, Tom Crabtree-26, D.J. Williams-23, Ryan Taylor-23, James Starks-25, Brandon Saine-23, Bryan Bulaga-22, Josh Sitton-25, T.J. Lang-24, Marshall Newhouse-23, Derek Sherrod-22. The only three people who are exactly up there in years are Driver, Ryan Grant, and Scott Wells. Driver has basically already been replaced, Grant has as well, and Wells has a bunch of good years left in him. Please don’t make arguments unless you know the numbers.

by Timothy Bryce on Feb 7, 2012 2:00 PM CST up reply actions

I know I said receivers but I included the ages of everyone there.

by Timothy Bryce on Feb 7, 2012 2:00 PM CST up reply actions

well I know this # 15-1 and done and that is a great number slapnuttttttttttttttttttttttttttt Tiny tim

by cali viking on Feb 8, 2012 12:23 AM CST up reply actions

Actually, he had very little say in how the offense was run.

by Timothy Bryce on Feb 7, 2012 2:01 PM CST up reply actions

I think the earliest favorites

prior to free agency would be the Super Bowl Champions….that is the Giants…not the Packers. Heading into the 2010 season, none of us whined that the Vikings weren’t the overall number 1 front runner, because we got beat….by the super bowl champs. The contention was how fair that game was, but not some pre draft, pre free agency sports writers poll of who they think will be the best team next year.

Get a grip.

by Chris3 on Feb 7, 2012 12:45 PM CST up reply actions

Not for nothing

But that’s a whole lot of “rising stars” for a defense that allowed more passing yards than any other defense in the history of the National Football League.

You make it sound as though the fix is a simple one. I have my doubts.

by Christopher Gates on Feb 7, 2012 2:05 PM CST up reply actions