The New York Giants are not inspiring a lot of confidence on people who bet on NFL as they prepare to visit the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on Monday, October 3rd. Here are the online sportsbook odds for that game:
Giants +5 (-115) 43 (-110) +185
Vikings -5 (-105) 43 (-110) -215
The Giants (2-1) had an auspicious season start with wins over the Dallas Cowboys and the New Orleans Saints. Who would have thought they would stumble against the lowly Washington Redskins? Certainly not people who bet on NFL. The Giants have no one to blame but themselves, though. They had 11 penalties for 128 yards – the worst of which was a third-down hit to the helmet by defensive end Olivier Vernon that kept the Redskins’ game-winning drive alive and kicking (literally; Washington’s kicker Dustin Hopkins made five field goals) – and three TOs, including Eli Manning throwing two interceptions in the fourth quarter.
Manning finished 25 of 38 for 350 yards and a 23-yard TD pass to wide receiver Sterling Shepard. Additionally, running backs Shane Vereen – who suffered a reportedly season-ending triceps injury – and ‘New’ Orleans Darkwa scored running TDs. Ultimately, though, the Redskins rallied from a 21-9 deficit.
The Vikings were sharp as ever on offense and defense, and as a result snapped the Carolina Panthers’ 14-game home winning streak 22-10 in week 3. Minnesota QB Sam Bradford went 18 of 28 for 171 yards with one 17-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Kyle Rudolph, who had seven receptions for 70 yards.
Return specialist Marcus Sherels returned a punt for another score. In the absence of Adrian Peterson, Matt Asiata ran for 15 yards on 6 carries, and Jerick McKinnon added 45 yards on 16 carries. On defense, defensive end Everson Griffen and five other Vikings sacked Panthers QB Cam Newton eight times, while Carolina receivers Kelvin Benjamin and Devin Funchess were kept reception-less.
Although the Vikings are the current NFC North title-holders, not many people who bet on NFL expected them to be this good, especially when they lost starting QB Teddy Bridgewater. Minnesotans were very concerned about that, but now it’s all Water under the Bridge, so to speak. Sam Bradford has proven he had a point when he bitched about the Philadelphia Eagles drafting Carson Wentz.
Even the running game seems to be in good hands – or rather, good feet – despite the league’s 2015 lead rusher Adrian Peterson being on the injured reserve. The state of the Vikings offense should worry the Giants, whose defense showed a lot of improvement in the first two games of the regular season only to regress against the Redskins.
On the plus side for the Giants, they have outrushed all three opponents this season after being outrushed by 20 yards per game last season, while the Vikings have been outgained and outrushed in two of its three games this season. These two teams faced each other last in December 2015, when Minnesota routed New York 49-17 at the old TCF Bank Stadium.