Minnesota Vikings NFL Prediction: 2021 Season Betting Odds and Preview

But with every major offensive piece returning this season, and several key additions on the defensive line and the secondary, the Vikings are well positioned to improve their standing this season.

Veteran Additions

WR Dede Westbrook, C Mason Cole, DE Stephen Weatherly, DT Dalvin Tomlinson, DT Sheldon Richardson, LB Nick Vigil, CB Patrick Peterson, CB Mackensie Alexander, S Xavier Woods

Notable Draft Picks

OT Christian Darrisaw, QB Kellen Mond, LB Chazz Surratt, G Wyatt Davis, DE Patrick Jones, RB Kene Nwangwu, S Camryn Bynum, DE Janarius Robinson

Offseason Losses

RB Mike Boone, TE Kyle Rudolph, OT Riley Reiff, DE Ifeadi Odenigbo, DT Shamar Stephen, LB Eric Wilson, LB Todd Davis, CB Mike Hughes, S Anthony Harris

Minnesota Vikings Acquisitions and Moves

Not much has changed for the Vikings on the offensive side of the football, where Kirk Cousins and the rest of the Minnesota skill players look to follow up on last year’s No. 4-ranked offensive attack. The Vikings were the only team in the NFL to average more than 250 passing yards and 140 rushing yards per game last season, making them a dangerous two-way threat.

Cousins will lean heavily on the dynamic receiving duo of Adam Thielen and second-year star Justin Jefferson, who burst onto the scene with 1,400 receiving yards last season. And the Vikings are well-positioned at tailback, as well, with all-world talent Dalvin Cook looking to build on a sensational 2020 campaign (1,918 total yards, 17 TDs).

Defensively, the Vikings are going to be a really interesting team to watch. Having been severely hamstrung by Cousins’ enormous contract, Minnesota has done well to rebuild its defensive line by adding Dalvin Tomlinson and Sheldon Richardson and bringing back Stephen Weatherly to bolster the interior.

The pass rush will also be better, after finishing 28th in the NFL with just 23 sacks last season. The arrival of Patrick Peterson is a major boost in that regard, and a host of young talent – led by 2020 third-rounder Cameron Dantzler – highlight what should be an improved secondary.

Minnesota Vikings 2021 NFL Schedule

It’s not great, but it could be worse. The Vikings could find the going rather tough in the second half of the season, which makes the beginning of their schedule (in which they open against lowly Cincinnati and play four home games in a five-game span from Weeks 3-8) critical.

Minnesota has drawn the brutal NFC West this year, with road games in San Francisco and Arizona and home games vs. Seattle and the Rams. And they have a daunting stretch shortly after their Week 7 bye, when they play four road games in a five-week stretch with a home showdown with the division-favorite Green Bay Packers in between.

Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 12 @ Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m.

Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 19 @ Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 p.m.

Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 26 vs. Seattle Seahawks, 4:25 p.m.

Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 3 vs. Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m.

Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 10 vs. Detroit Lions, 1 p.m.

Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 17 @ Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m.

Week 7: BYE

Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 31 vs. Dallas Cowboys, 8:20 p.m.

Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 7 @ Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m.

Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 14 @ Los Angeles Chargers, 4:05 p.m.

Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 21 vs. Green Bay Packers, 1 p.m.

Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 28 @ San Francisco 49ers, 4:25 p.m.

Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 5 @ Detroit Lions, 1 p.m.

Week 14: Thursday, Dec. 9 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:20 p.m.

Week 15: Monday, Dec. 20 @ Chicago Bears, 8:15 p.m.

Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 26 vs. Los Angeles Rams, 1 p.m.

Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 2 @ Green Bay Packers, 8:20 p.m.

Week 18: Sunday, Jan. 9 vs. Chicago Bears, 1 p.m.

Minnesota Vikings NFL Betting Odds

The Vikings are the No. 2 favourite to win the NFC North at +240, well back of the Packers but comfortably ahead of the third-place Chicago Bears. Minnesota is in the middle of the pack among NFC Championship contenders at +2000, and is a +4100 underdog to win the Super Bowl title, between Arizona and Washington.

The Vikings’ 2021 win total is set at 8.5, though Over bettors have hammered this number to the point where the odds are now -157. The U8.5 is installed at +128. Minnesota is also -128 to miss the playoffs and +105 to reach the postseason.

Minnesota Vikings 2021 Season Prediction

Minnesota is still a step behind Green Bay in the NFC North pecking order, but there’s no reason why this team can’t rack up double-digit wins despite a gruelling second-half schedule.

Perhaps the momentum of a friendlier first half will work in their favour – but either way, there’s enough talent on the offensive side of the ball and anticipated improvement on defence to land the Vikings in the playoffs. Choosing them to go any further, however, might not be prudent.