Many of you are probably still recovering from the final few minutes of that epic between the Saints and Vikings – especially New Orleans moneyline and Minnesota -5.5 bettors – but Championship Sunday waits for no one and we’ve got a heavyweight matchup in Philadelphia to handicap.
Back in the NFC championship game for the first time since 2009, the only way the Eagles and their fans could be more excited for Sunday is if Carson Wentz was starting the game. While Nick Foles hasn’t been awful since taking over signal-calling duties for Philly, he hasn’t been great either and if he’s a factor this weekend, it probably won’t be for something positive.
Doug Pederson will likely keep the ball out of his quarterback’s hands as much as possible but if the Vikings stack the box and take away the Eagles’ rushing attack, Nickfoleon Dynamite is going to have to be the fuse that ignites the offense. Considering Foles’ 31.4 total QBR this season, that’s a scary prospect for Philly fans.
As for the Vikes, they’re coming into the City of Brotherly Love on a serious emotional high after that miraculous last-second score with a chance to play in the Big Game in their own stadium and Sportsbooks opened them as 3.5-point road faves – a line that could scare Minnesota football historians out there. The last time the Vikings went into a conference championship as road chalk, they were blanked by the Giants 41-0 in 2001.
That outcome, however, seems incredibly unlikely this time around. Minnesota’s ferocious defense gave up 20 or more points just five times this season and in their last three games, the Eagles have averaged just eight.
If Case Keenum can keep doing what he’s been doing and get his No. 1 scoring defense around 20 points, that should be more than enough to give Minnesota its first Super Bowl berth since 1976 as the Vikings are 12-1 SU this season when they’ve scored 20 or more.
That said, the Eagles’ fourth-ranked scoring defense is nothing to sneeze at and getting to that 20-point threshold could be easier said than done. The total for this one opened as low as it did for a reason. If you don’t like defense, this is not the game for you.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
Those siding with the visitors in this matchup saw the Minnesota Vikings listed as 4.5-point favorites at shops such as Sportsbook. Meanwhile, the OVER/UNDER line for the betting matchup was at 39.5 over at Sportsbook.
OddsShark prediction models picked the Vikings to win this game on Sunday 23-17. Check the picks page or matchup report during the week as factors may cause that prediction to be re-run. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NFL matchups here.
Minnesota Vikings vs Philadelphia Eagles Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The Philadelphia Eagles sit at 14-3 (11-6 ATS) on the season; in comparison, the Minnesota Vikings are currently 14-3 (11-6 ATS). Looking to bet on the totals? Philadelphia is 8-9 OU, and Minnesota is 8-9 OU. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Philadelphia vs Minnesota injuries news.
The game pits the Eagles, currently No. 4 in our OddsShark NFL Power Rankings, against the Vikings, who rate No. 2 in the latest survey.
Statistical Matchup
The game also pits Philadelphia's No. 4-ranked offense, averaging 27.76 PPG, against a Vikings defense that ranks No. 1 this week at 16.24 PPG. The Eagles aerial game is averaging 233.82 yards per game, more than the Vikings secondary allows through the air, 197.41 YPG per game.
Defensively, the Vikings feature the league's No. 14-rated road run defense, allowing 112.13 yards per game. The Eagles, meanwhile, rank No. 7 in rushing offense at home.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
Case Keenum threw for 318 yards and 1 score as Minnesota handed New Orleans a 29-24 defeat.
In their last game, the Eagles were divisional playoff Sportsbooks, coming out on top of the Falcons by a score of 15-10.