4 Best Vikings Bets in 2020
Ben Lyso
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Football is upon us.
This Sunday, September 6th, is our last Sunday without football.
Let me say it again: Our last Sunday without football.
It’s been a long journey through the uncertain waters of COVID, but we’re here. And while I am cautious about the NFL finishing a full season, today is not a day for pessimism but for excitement for the future.
All of our questions will soon be answered: Can the wide receivers (sans-Thielen) step up to fill the void left by Stefon Diggs? Will the young cornerback group be able to hold their own? Will Kirk Cousins shit the bed or build on his playoff win from last year?
Going into the season, I’m excited about any and everything Vikings related – but do you know what I’m most excited about?
Sports betting.
Over the years I’ve metamorphosed from a casual gambler in fantasy football leagues to a full on degenerate willing to bet on any matchup if the numbers are right.
Throughout my journey, I’ve stayed pretty much even: I’ve won thousands on last second, heart-pounding field goal attempts, and I’ve also felt like Ari Gold in Entourage sitting at the blackjack table down $300,000 (figuratively speaking, of course).
But it’s a new year, and I’m barreling into the 2020 NFL betting season like Mike and Trent screaming “VEGAS!” on their way to hit the tables in Swingers.
As such, I have scoured the odds looking for good Vikings wagers in futures bets.
Futures bets are bets that will not be decided until (you guessed it) the future.
In this category you will be able to bet on things like who will be MVP, how many wins a certain team will have, how many rushing yards a player will have, and so on.
So behold, I have compiled the best odds — in my opinion — for winning Vikings futures bets.
All lines have been taken from DraftKings, and, one more thing: If I’m wrong, please leave the pitchforks at home.
1. Vikings – NFL Sack Leaders (+2000)
Just in case anyone has been under a rock for the past week or so, the Vikings recently traded with the Jacksonville Jaguars for 25-year old Pro-Bowl edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue.
This, of course, means the Vikings now have two Pro-Bowl edge rushers in Ngakoue and Danielle Hunter, thereby having one of the most fearsome pass-rushing duos in the NFL.
Both only 25 years old, they have combined for 92 sacks in their career; with Hunter alone racking up 14.5 sacks each of the past two seasons.
The Vikings being the NFL sack leaders at +2000 is tied for the 7th best odds in this category, behind teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers and the San Francisco 49ers.
I can’t tell if this is disrespect, incompetence, or a bit of both for whoever was in charge of making this line.
In 2018, the Vikings finished 3rd in the league in sacks, just two behind the NFL leader.
In 2019, the Vikings finished 5th in the league in sacks, just six behind the NFL leader.
And now, they add a young Pro-Bowl edge rusher to fill the spot left by Everson Griffen.
I’ll take this bet in a heartbeat.
Bet: Vikings sack leaders (+2000)
Wager: $100 To win: $2,000
2. Kirk Cousins Passing TDs +/- 24.5 (-110)
The media and NFL hive-mind is once again showing they don’t believe Cousins is a top quarterback, and have set the betting line for Cousins’ touchdown total at 24.5.
I know the Vikings lost Stefon Diggs, but Cousins still has a Pro-Bowl receiver to throw to in Adam Thielen, in addition to other competent pass catchers in Bisi Johnson, Kyle Rudolph, Irv Smith, and (hopefully) rookie Justin Jefferson.
Not to mention, Cousins has NEVER, in his five years as a full-time starter, thrown for less than 25 touchdowns.
He didn’t throw for under 25 in 2015 as his first year as a starter.
He didn’t throw for under 25 in 2019 when Thielen was out for most of the year and the Vikings opted for a more run-heavy scheme.
And he didn’t throw for under 25 in 2017, when his receivers in Washington were the likes of: Jamison Crowder, Josh Doctson, and 33-year old Vernon Davis.
Take the over – and take it fast.
Bet: Kirk Cousins Pass TDs (25 or more) (-110)
Wager: $100 To win: $90.91
3. Vikings – NFL interception leaders (+1600)
Everyone knows the train-wreck that was the Vikings’ secondary last year.
The cornerback play was simply abysmal, thanks in part to Xavier Rhodes having a career-worst year.
Despite that, the Vikings finished 3rd in interceptions.
The team has re-tooled its defense; reports have been coming out of training camp that the new-look secondary has been performing largely positively, and having a new fearsome pass-rush duo in Hunter and Ngakoue will certainly cause opposing quarterbacks to make more desperation plays.
This, in turn, can lead to more interceptions.
At the end of the day I’ll leave you with this: the Vikings were 3rd in the league in interceptions last year with some of the worst cornerback play we have seen in years. The addition of competent replacements and a fearsome pass-rush only increases the odds for more interceptions.
Bet: Vikings Interception Leaders (+1600)
Wager: $100 To win: $1,600
4. Danielle Hunter NFL Sack Leader (+1300)
Danielle Hunter is a player who has flown under the radar for much of his career.
Be it his lack of personal branding, being on a mid-market team, or whatever the case may be, he has historically not gotten the respect and praise that he deserves.
Vegas, however, respects his play.
Danielle Hunter, at +1300, is tied for the 2nd best odds to lead the NFL in sacks — and that shouldn’t surprise anyone.
In 2018, he tallied 14.5 sacks, finishing 4th in the league.
In 2019? He did the exact same thing, finishing with 14.5 sacks, good for 4th in the league.
Hunter has been consistently dominant, and adding another Pro-Bowl edge rusher in Yannick Ngakoue will only help his dominance — perhaps finally bringing him to superstardom this year.
It won’t be easy competing with the likes of Shaq Barrett, Chandler Jones, and the Bosas, but at +1300?
I like those odds.
Bet: Danielle Hunter Sack Leader (+1300)
Wager: $100 To win: $1,300