Who doesn't love a good Battle of Roller Coaster Rides in the opening weekend of the NFL playoffs? That's what we have in store for us in the Wild Card matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants.
For the Giants' part, they're wrapping up a regular season in which they won and lost a bunch of close games, couldn't cobble together a consistent passing attack, and leaned far too much on their defensive playmaking and the legs of superstar running back Saquon Barkley. For the Vikings' part, they enter with a dominant-looking 13-4 record, but many maintain that they benefited from a cupcake schedule and are nothing more than a paper tiger with a 28th-ranked defense.
This push and pull can make it difficult to discern a clear best bet for Vikings vs. Giants. Of course, this is not reflected in the initial lines. Minnesota has been deemed the clear favorite, as you can see from the latest NFL online betting odds, courtesy of the folks over at BetUS:
| Favorite |  | | Underdog |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings | -166 | +140 | New York Giants |
Make a habit of double-checking these online NFL betting odds until you submit your NFL Wild Card prediction. Our odds for Giants vs. Vikings are accurate entering Wednesday, January 11. That gives linemakers plenty of time to adjust their odds based on the action prior to kick-off, which is scheduled for Sunday, January 15, at 4:30 p.m. EST.
To be sure, you don't have to worry about missing out on the most accurate NFL playoff betting lines if you sign up with the right odds provider. That's why we compiled reviews of all the top online sportsbooks. These exhaustive evaluations are designed to help you spot the industry's best NFL betting sites.
On that note, it's time to deliver our Vikings vs. Giants picks. While many have already chosen Minnesota and moved on to analyzing their odds to win the 2023 Super Bowl, we're not quite sure that's the right move. New York is not a team to be taken lightly, and they might be laying untold value across both the moneyline and point spread.
Should the Minnesota Vikings Really be Heavy Favorites to Beat the New York Giants?
The scrappy defense helped earn the Giants a playoff spot against all odds. Hardly anyone had them cracking the postseason, let alone winning almost ten games, at the start of the year. But between a Pro Bowl season from Saquon Barkley on the ground and a passing defense that ranked 12th in net yards per passing attempt, New York managed to tread water and give themselves a chance to upend just about any opponent.
Granted, the Giants have started to show some cracks later in the schedule. They finished the regular season 17th in points allowed per game, with one of the worst rushing defenses on paper. That's a real problem when their offense continues to lack a dangerous passing attack. Daniel Jones is an okay steward. He doesn't turn the ball over. But that's in part because the Giants don't lean on him like a franchise quarterback. They manage his possessions to an absurd degree.
This explains why the Vikings are flirting with their 2-to-1 favorite status. It also helps that they edged out the Giants 27-24 earlier this season in Week 16. And yet, Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins hasn't looked great since that outing. Over his final two games for the regular season, he mustered just two touchdowns against three interceptions.
We can't pretend these struggles are isolated, either. The Vikings have been up and down on offense all season, and they can't count on Justin Jefferson to turn in another 130-yard performance as he did against the Giants the first time around. This game could come down to which team does a better job of controlling the clock with their ground game while protecting the ball overall. And if that's the case, the outcome should favor New York.
OSB Prediction: New York Giants (+140)
Even If You Don't Believe in the Giants, They're Tantalizing Point Spread Bets Against the Vikings
Here are the latest NFL point spread betting odds for the Minnesota Vikings vs. New York Giants matchup this Sunday:
- Minnesota Vikings, -3 (-114)
- New York Giants, +3 (-104)
Don't you have faith in the Giants to pull off the upset? That's okay. They are the kings of tightly contested games this season. The vast majority of their contests have been determined by less than a touchdown, and they have one of the league's best loss differentials for the year.
On top of that, nobody has been better at covering the spread, regardless of whether they are on the road or at home. The Giants are 13-4 against the spread for the season—a 76.5 percent conversion rate that comfortably leads the NFL.
OSB Prediction: New York Giants, +3 (-104)
The New York vs. Minnesota Wild Card Matchup May Be a Lower-Scoring Affair Than Advertised
Below you can see the latest NFL over/under betting odds for the New York Giants vs. Minnesota Vikings:
- Over 48.5 (-110)
- Under 48.5 (-110)
Given Kirk Cousins' recent struggles under center for the Vikings, we have a tough time seeing this game sniffing the 50-point threshold. Remember: The Giants have one of the weaker passing attacks in the league and have scored more than 25 points just twice all season.
Unless you see Minnesota detonating for 30-plus points—something they've done just once in regulation this season—investing in the "over" line seems like the right call.
OSB Prediction: Under 48.5 (-110)
Take a look at this list of the top online sportsbooks so you can decide which one to use for all of your NFL playoff betting:
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