NFL

New Orleans Saints vs Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans
Saints
12 - 5
Minnesota
Vikings
13 - 3
January 14, 2018, 4:40 PM EST
 | U.S. Bank Stadium

Game Preview

New Orleans
Saints
12 - 5
Minnesota
Vikings
13 - 3
January 14, 2018, 4:40 PM EST
 | U.S. Bank Stadium
  • If the Minnesota Vikings plan to have a dream finish at home in the Super Bowl, they’ll have to go through the rejuvenated New Orleans Saints. In what’s shaping up to be the game of the weekend, the Vikings will put their 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS home record on the line vs a Saints squad that marched over the Panthers in the wild-card round. 

    SHARK BITES
    • The total has gone UNDER in seven of the Vikings’ last eight games in the playoffs.
    • The Vikings are 6-2 SU in their last eight games at home vs teams with winning records.
    • The total has gone OVER in five of the Saints’ last seven games as an underdog.

    So much has changed with these two squads since their Week 1 meeting. Adrian Peterson was pouting on the sideline, Sam Bradford and Dalvin Cook had use of both of their knees and Case Keenum was a perennial backup. Fast-forward to the playoffs and now Keenum has a legitimate MVP case, Alvin Kamara is a lock for Offensive Rookie of the Year and the biggest shock of all, the Saints pass defense is competent. 

    Although ranked 15th in passing yards allowed this season, it’s a dramatic shift compared to past seasons when the Saints routinely were near the bottom of the NFL in that category. This upgrade (along with Kamara) is the main reason why New Orleans is back in the playoffs after missing out on the postseason for three straight years.

    However, what is not shocking is how well the Vikings play at home. Minnesota has been a juggernaut at U.S. Bank Stadium this season and Mike Zimmer’s defense is no joke. The Vikes have held teams to an average of 12.5 points per game at home and in their final three regular-season games allowed only 5.7.

    It’s not just this season that opponents have had their ship wrecked up north as Minnesota is 25-10 SU and 26-9 ATS in its last 35 home games. The Vikings’ No. 2-ranked rush defense will be put to the test vs Kamara and Mark Ingram, as the running backs combined to average over 193 yards from scrimmage per game this season. Minnesota may be up to the challenge, though, as its third-down defense was extraordinary. Opponents all year had an uphill battle to sustain drives vs the Vikings’ stingy defense, which allowed 25 percent of all third-down opportunities to be converted.

    The fate of either team may come down to quarterback play. Keenum will be starting his first playoff game and was serviceable in seven home games this season, throwing eight touchdowns and only two interceptions with a 100.1 QBR. On the flip side, Drew Brees was competent away from the Bayou but it didn’t translate to wins as the Saints finished 4-4 SU and ATS on the road. Bettors will also be interested to know that in five road playoff games, Breezy is 1-4 SU and has thrown eight touchdowns and five interceptions. Very pedestrian numbers for a future Hall of Famer.

    The total opened at 44 and while Minnesota’s defense is ferocious, the OVER should be heavily considered. Both the Saints and Vikings averaged over 23 points per game this season and New Orleans still managed 25.7 points per game on the road despite the mixed results in the W-L column.

    Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick

    Betting fans looking to back the visiting New Orleans Saints in this one found them as 4.5-point underdogs earlier in the week, while the total was settling in the neighborhood of 44 at shops such as Sportsbook.

    Prediction-scoring formulas run on this game picked a potential 29-14 result in favor of the Vikings. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NFL matchups here.

    New Orleans Saints vs Minnesota Vikings Matchup

    Team Betting Records & Power Rankings

    This season the Minnesota Vikings are 13-3 overall and 11-5 against the spread, while the Saints are 12-5 and 8-9 ATS. As for the totals, Minnesota is 7-9 on the OU, and New Orleans is 10-7. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Minnesota vs New Orleans injuries news.

    It's a betting matchup between the No. 2-rated Vikings and the No. 6-ranked Saints, according to the NFL Power Rankings here at OddsShark.

    Statistical Matchup

    The game also pits Minnesota's No. 10-ranked offense, averaging 23.88 PPG, against a Saints defense that ranks No. 10 this week at 20.71 PPG. The Vikings aerial game is averaging 234.56 yards per game, more than the Saints secondary allows through the air, 229.59 YPG per game.

    Defensively, the Saints feature the league's No. 12-rated road run defense, allowing 112.38 yards per game. The Vikings, meanwhile, rank No. 8 in rushing offense at home.

    Recent Outings Betting Recap

    In their last game, New Orleans' aerial attack generated 376 yards and the Saints came away with a 31-26 victory over Carolina at Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

    Latavius Murray ran through the Chicago defense for 111 yards in Minnesota's last game, handing the Bears a 23-10 setback in their regular-season finale at U.S. Bank Stadium.

    Betting Trends
    • New Orleans is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
    • New Orleans is 12-3 SU in its last 15 games
    • The total has gone OVER in 4 of New Orleans' last 6 games
    • New Orleans is 12-5-1 ATS in its last 18 games on the road
    • Minnesota is 9-2 ATS in its last 11 games
    • Minnesota is 11-1 SU in its last 12 games
    • The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Minnesota's last 5 games
    • Minnesota is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home

Odds

Sunday, January 14 Sun Jan 14


Opening
Current

Spread
Moneyline
O/U
Opening
+4.5
-110
+175
o44
-110
-4.5
-110
-205
u44
-110
Spread
Moneyline
O/U
Current
+5.5
-108
+195
o46.5
-115
-5.5
-112
-225
u46.5
-105

Edge Finder

19.41
Total Score
24.89
217.00
Passing Yards
264.17
116.76
Rushing Yards
95.67
29:31
Time on Field
29:48
59.71
Number of Plays
65.50
5.59
Yards Per Play
5.49
19.41
Total Score
24.89
3.82
First Quarter
4.72
5.29
Second Quarter
6.50
4.59
Third Quarter
3.78
5.71
Fourth Quarter
9.56
217.00
Passing Yards
264.17
30.12
Pass Attempts
39.56
19.88
Pass Completions
26.67
2.24
Sacks
2.61
16.41
Sack Yards
18.56
10.91
Yards Per Pass
9.91
116.76
Rushing Yards
95.67
27.35
Rush Attempts
23.33
4.27
Yards Per Rush
4.10
0.82
Interceptions
0.83
1.35
Fumbles
1.06
0.65
Fumbles Lost
0.44
1.47
Total Turnovers
1.28
5.82
Penalties
5.06
49.47
Penalty Yards
38.94
29:31
Time on Field
29:48
59.71
Number of Plays
65.50
5.59
Yards Per Play
5.49
4.53
Punts
4.28
46.39
Punt Average
47.04
55.76
Return Yards
72.06

Head To Head

NO
Stat Type MIN
5-5
Record
5-5
3-7
ATS
7-3
7-3
O/U
7-3
25.90
Score
24.30
104.20
Rush Yds
110.80
35.90
Pass Attempts
34.10
62.95
Completion %
63.64
256.10
Passing Yds
261.80
360.3
Total Yds
372.6
1.30
Turnovers
1.30
NO
Stat Type MIN
2-1
Record
1-2
2-1
ATS
1-2
2-1
O/U
2-1
27.00
Score
19.33
109.67
Rush Yds
97.67
37.67
Pass Attempts
31.33
76.11
Completion %
61.70
328.00
Passing Yds
210.33
437.67
Total Yds
308
0.67
Turnovers
0.33
Sep 11/17 (1 of 10)
NO
Stat Type MIN
Away
Home
19
Score
29
+3
ATS
-3
47.5 o
O/U
47.5 u
60
Rush Yds
129
37
Pass Attempts
32
72.97
Completion %
84.38
284
Passing Yds
341
344
Total Yds
470
0
Turnovers
0
Sep 21/14 (2 of 10)
NO
Stat Type MIN
Home
Away
20
Score
9
-9.5
ATS
+9.5
49.5 o
O/U
49.5 u
108
Rush Yds
59
35
Pass Attempts
30
77.14
Completion %
56.67
288
Passing Yds
188
396
Total Yds
247
0
Turnovers
0
Dec 18/11 (3 of 10)
NO
Stat Type MIN
Away
Home
42
Score
20
-7
ATS
+7
53.5 o
O/U
53.5 u
161
Rush Yds
105
41
Pass Attempts
32
78.05
Completion %
43.75
412
Passing Yds
102
573
Total Yds
207
2
Turnovers
1
Sep 9/10 (4 of 10)
NO
Stat Type MIN
Home
Away
14
Score
9
-5.5
ATS
+5.5
49 o
O/U
49 u
79
Rush Yds
91
36
Pass Attempts
27
75.00
Completion %
55.56
229
Passing Yds
162
308
Total Yds
253
0
Turnovers
1
Jan 24/10 (5 of 10)
NO
Stat Type MIN
Home
Away
31
Score
28
-4
ATS
+4
54 o
O/U
54 u
68
Rush Yds
165
31
Pass Attempts
46
54.84
Completion %
60.87
189
Passing Yds
310
257
Total Yds
475
1
Turnovers
5
Oct 6/08 (6 of 10)
NO
Stat Type MIN
Home
Away
27
Score
30
-3
ATS
+3
47 o
O/U
47 u
55
Rush Yds
44
46
Pass Attempts
37
56.52
Completion %
54.05
320
Passing Yds
226
375
Total Yds
270
4
Turnovers
0
Sep 25/05 (7 of 10)
NO
Stat Type MIN
Away
Home
16
Score
33
+4.5
ATS
-4.5
44.5 o
O/U
44.5 u
114
Rush Yds
147
32
Pass Attempts
29
37.50
Completion %
72.41
182
Passing Yds
273
296
Total Yds
420
4
Turnovers
0
Oct 17/04 (8 of 10)
NO
Stat Type MIN
Home
Away
31
Score
38
+3.5
ATS
-3.5
51 o
O/U
51 u
159
Rush Yds
188
38
Pass Attempts
38
57.89
Completion %
68.42
226
Passing Yds
417
385
Total Yds
605
1
Turnovers
3
Dec 15/02 (9 of 10)
NO
Stat Type MIN
Home
Away
31
Score
32
-7
ATS
+7
50.5 o
O/U
50.5 u
78
Rush Yds
146
33
Pass Attempts
36
63.64
Completion %
72.22
221
Passing Yds
293
299
Total Yds
439
0
Turnovers
0
Oct 7/01 (10 of 10)
NO
Stat Type MIN
Home
Away
28
Score
15
-3.5
ATS
+3.5
43.5 o
O/U
43.5 u
160
Rush Yds
34
30
Pass Attempts
34
50.00
Completion %
67.65
210
Passing Yds
306
370
Total Yds
340
1
Turnovers
3

Team Records

NO
Record MIN
12-5
All
13-3
8-1
Home
7-1
4-4
Away
6-2
8-9
ATS
11-5
4-5
ATS Home
6-2
4-4
ATS Away
5-3
10-7
O/U
7-9
6-3
O/U Home
3-5
4-4
O/U Away
4-4
NO
Record MIN
9-4
All
10-2
7-0
Home
5-1
2-4
Away
5-1
6-7
ATS
8-4
4-3
ATS Home
4-2
2-4
ATS Away
4-2
7-6
O/U
5-7
4-3
O/U Home
2-4
3-3
O/U Away
3-3
NO
Record MIN
5-2
All
5-1
4-0
Home
2-1
1-2
Away
3-0
4-3
ATS
3-3
3-1
ATS Home
1-2
1-2
ATS Away
2-1
0-0
O/U
0-0
0-0
O/U Home
0-0
0-0
O/U Away
0-0
NO
Record MIN
7-3
All
9-1
6-0
Home
4-0
1-3
Away
5-1
4-6
ATS
8-2
3-3
ATS Home
3-1
1-3
ATS Away
5-1
6-4
O/U
5-5
4-2
O/U Home
1-3
2-2
O/U Away
4-2

Gametime Weather

Weather
3:00pm Snow
-11ºC / 13ºF
71% Humidity
78% Precipitation
100% Cloud Cover
Stadium Type Indoor
Field Image

Injuries

Name Position Inj Desc
Name Position Inj Desc

Last 10 Games

Date Opp Score SU Line/Total ATS OFF. RUSH OFF. PASS OFF. TOTAL DEF. RUSH DEF. PASS DEF. TOTAL TO
Jan 7, 2018CAR31-26W-6.5/47.5L/O413694101073064131
Dec 31, 2017TB24-31L-6/50L/O92231323110345455-2
Dec 24, 2017ATL23-13W-5/51W/U8622931567264331-1
Dec 17, 2017NYJ31-19W-16.5/46.5L/O1312854161241702941
Dec 7, 2017ATL17-20L+2.5/51.5L/U50256306132211343-2
Dec 3, 2017CAR31-21W-5.5/47.5W/O1482524001121672790
Nov 26, 2017LAR20-26L+2.5/54L/U12322334688327415-1
Nov 19, 2017WAS34-31W-9.5/52.5L/O1603755351563004561
Nov 12, 2017BUF47-10W-2/48W/O298184482691291980
Nov 5, 2017TB30-10W-7/54W/U151256407871132001
View Game Logs
Date Opp Score SU Line/Total ATS OFF. RUSH OFF. PASS OFF. TOTAL DEF. RUSH DEF. PASS DEF. TOTAL TO
Dec 31, 2017CHI23-10W-13.5/38L/U147180327301712010
Dec 23, 2017GB16-0W-8.5/40.5W/U112124236113126239-2
Dec 17, 2017CIN34-7W-12.5/42W/U12422234646115161-1
Dec 10, 2017CAR24-31L-2.5/40.5L/O1002563562161293452
Dec 3, 2017ATL14-9W+2/48.5W/U1052073121021732750
Nov 23, 2017DET30-23W-2.5/45W/O13627240853236289-2
Nov 19, 2017LAR24-7W-1.5/46W/U17128045145209254-1
Nov 12, 2017WAS38-30W-1/41W/O102304406813133941
Oct 29, 2017CLE33-16W-11/38.5W/O88287375115161276-1
Oct 22, 2017BAL24-16W-5.5/37.5W/O169188357641442081
View Game Logs