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NFC Championship Odds & Expert Pick: Minnesota at Philadelphia

NFC Championship Odds & Expert Pick: Minnesota at Philadelphia

Written by on January 17, 2018

NFL News and Betting Previews| Xbet.ag
Last year, both the Minnesota Vikings and the Philadelphia Eagles missed the postseason altogether. This year, they share the best record in the NFC (14-3) as they meet in Philadelphia for the right to go to Super Bowl LII. Interestingly, both teams are led by their backup quarterbacks, as Sam Bradford (for the Vikings) and Carson Wentz (for the Eagles) went down for the season with knee injuries. Case Keenum has come on big-time for the Vikings, throwing the ball with confidence and precision, while Nick Foles has done just enough at the helm of the Eagles to get them through a win over the Giants in Week 15 and a divisional round win over Atlanta. Now the Vikings come to Philadelphia as road favorites. Will they cover the NFL lines, or will the Eagles buck the oddsmakers once again and make it back to the Super Bowl?

NFC Championship Odds & Expert Pick: Minnesota at Philadelphia

When: Sunday, January 21, 2018, 6:40am EST Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia TV: FOX Radio: 1270 AM (Minnesota) / SportsRadio 94WIP (Philadelphia) Live Stream: NFL Live NFC Championship Odds: Minnesota (-3.5), O/U 40

Latest NFC Championship Betting Trends

  • Minnesota is 9-3 ATS in its last 12 games
  • Minnesota is 12-1 SU in its last 13 games
  • The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Minnesota’s last 6 games
  • Philadelphia is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
  • Philadelphia is 13-2 SU in its last 15 games
  • The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Philadelphia’s last 8 games

Why should you bet on the Vikings?

Two of the best run defenses in the NFL square off when the two teams take the field, so the Vikings’ Latavius Murray and the Eagles’ tandem of LeGarrette Blount and Jay Ajayi will find it hard sledding. The game will ride on the team that can produce down the field with the passing game. Case Keenum has shown a much larger propensity for delivering those passes than Nick Foles has, at least up to this point of the season. Keenum’s heave to Stefon Diggs gave the Vikings a last-gasp victory over New Orleans last week. The Vikings showed in the first half that they could cover against New Orleans’ Drew Brees. In the second half, offensive adjustments helped the Saints come back and take the lead twice, briefly, in the fourth period. Foles does not have the creativity or the downfield arm strength that Brees has shown over his career, and in the four games that the Eagles have played with Foles at quarterback, the team has not shown the ability to make the sort of adjustments that would help them solve the Vikings’ defense after the intermission.

Why should you put your money on the Eagles?

Nick Foles does have three quality targets down the field in Nelson Agholor, Alshon Jeffery and Zach Ertz. Corey Clement can catch passes out of the backfield and break long gainers. If Foles can get the ball out quickly, he should be able to find some open targets down the field. However, Foles has a tendency to hold onto the ball too long — which could lead to some big sacks. Neither Ajayi nor Blount has breakaway speed; both are prototypical power runners who grind for yards. However, the Vikings’ defense is designed to shut that type of runner down in the middle of the line. The Eagles’ defense was able to muffle the high-powered offense that Atlanta brought to town. However, a lot of that had to do with the failure of the Falcon offense to capitalize on open receivers down the field. The Eagles did mount a solid pass rush, but Matt Ryan also held onto the ball longer than he should have in the pocket.

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

In their last five home games against Minnesota, Philadelphia has covered the spread four times. Ttheir last six home games against a team with a winning road record, they have covered the spread five times. In their last five January contests, the Eagles have covered the spread four times. Given that the Vikings are a dome team having to come outside in the cold winter and play, they are going to struggle with elements that the Eagles face every week. I see the Vikings winning — but I see the Eagles covering. I predict a final
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