Categories
NFL

2011 NFL Preview: Vikings Super Bowl XLVI Betting Lines

Superbowl 46 Betting Online – 2011 Vikings Season Preview

Minnesota exchanged one aging veteran quarterback for another when it replaced the retired Brett Favre (finally) by trading with Washington for Donovan McNabb.

NFL 2011 Team Preview and Odds- Minnesota Vikings
Odds to win the NFC North +850
Odds to win the NFC 15/1
Odds to win the Super Bowl 35/1
Win Total 7

McNabb led Philadelphia to five NFC Championship games during his tenure with the team and the Vikings are hoping he can do the same here after Favre got the team to the conference championship in 2009.

Last season’s fall from grace to a 6-10 record after compiling a 12-4 record in 2009 cannot all be pinned on Favre. The problems on this team ran deep, starting with an offense that was ranked 23rd in the NFL overall. It was ranked 26th in passing yards and 10th in rushing even with Adrian Peterson in the backfield.

Vikings Super Bowl Lines & Predictions

McNabb should be able to bring some stability to the passing game, but the loss of free agent wide receiver Sidney Rice to Seattle will definitely not help its cause. Minnesota did add WR’s Devin Aromashodu from Chicago and Michael Jenkins from Atlanta, but a talent like Rice is not easily replaced.

The biggest concern will be putting points on the board after finishing ranked 29th in scoring in 2010. [soliloquy id=”82219″]

The defense did not make it through the recent free-agent frenzy unscathed either with the loss of DE Ray Edwards, who signed a deal with the Falcons as a free agent. Edwards accounted for 16.5 sacks over the past two seasons and will leave a gaping hole in the front seven along with the absence of free agent nose tackle Pat Williams, who chose not to resign with the team.

The Vikings selected defensive lineman Christian Ballard in the fourth round and defensive backs’ Brandon Burton in the fifth and Mistral Raymond in the sixth, but at this point these players will be counted on to add some depth to the overall squad.

The biggest difference between this season and last year at this point in time is the lack of the circus-like atmosphere created by former head coach Brad Childress and the whole Favre situation.

New coach Leslie Frazer has done a good job at getting this team to refocus on the fundamentals and McNabb brings a ton a veteran leadership without all the drama.

He is seen as a quick-fix until first round draft pick Christian Ponder is deemed ready to start, but if McNabb can elevate his game anywhere near his glory days in Philly, the Vikings could shock quite a few teams this season.

2011 Prediction: 7-9 and third in the NFC North

With NFL Training camps already starting Cappers Picks NFL Football handicappers have been hard at work putting out the team by team Football Predictions and NFL Season Previews for those of us who can’t wait.

Bet on the Super Bowl XLVI winner, plus 2011 Conference and Divisional winners today.

CHECK OUT OUR BEST NFL HANDICAPPERS FOR 2011 – click here now!