New York Giants vs. Minnesota Vikings Betting Odds, Analysis, NFL Pick

The Minnesota Vikings christened their new stadium two weeks ago with a Sunday night victory over the rival Green Bay Packers. The Vikings will now try to snap an 0-7 skid both straight up and against the spread on Monday nights when they host the New York Giants at U.S. Bank Stadium to cap off Week 4's action.

Point Spread

The Vikings opened as 3.5-point favorites; the total was 43.5 early in the week, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark. (Line updates and matchup report)

NFL Pick, Via Odds Shark Computer 

Odds Shark predicts a score of 23.8-13.9 in favor of the Vikings, as of 10:30 a.m. ET. (NFL picks on every game)

Why the Giants Can Cover the Spread

After dropping to 6-10 last season, the Giants are off to a 2-1 start to this year. They opened with a 20-19 victory over the Dallas Cowboys; they then held off the New Orleans Saints 16-13 before losing a tough one last week at home to the Washington Redskins, 29-27.

New York grabbed an early 14-3 lead on the Redskins—and later led 21-9—but the Giants' defense, which was much improved in their first two games this season, allowed several big plays. That included two long pass completions for scores, letting Washington back in the game. The special teams unit was victimized by a 31-yard gain on a fake punt, which lead to a Redskins field goal.

In the end, quarterback Eli Manning threw his second interception of the fourth quarter—the first came inside the Washington red zone—as the Giants were driving near midfield in the final minute.

The Giants outgained the Redskins in total yards (457-403) and outrushed them 120-90. In fact, after getting outrushed by 20.8 yards per game last season, according to Pro-football-reference.com, New York has outrushed all three opponents this season.

Why the Vikings Can Cover the Spread

Even as defending NFC North champions, the Vikings are one of the more pleasant surprises in the league this season. Minnesota is down its starting quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater and all-world running back in Adrian Peterson, but the team is still off to a 3-0 start both SU and ATS after upsetting the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte last week, 22-10.

The Vikings, as six-point underdogs, were down to the Panthers 10-0 just ten minutes into the game but scratched their way back with help from Marcus Sherels, who returned a punt 54 yards for a score shortly before halftime. Minnesota then drove the second-half kickoff 79 yards for a touchdown that gave them the lead for good, and the defense did the rest by sacking Carolina quarterback Cam Newton eight times, once for a safety, while picking him off three times.

New quarterback Sam Bradford is now 40-for-59 passing this season, with three touchdown strikes and zero interceptions.

Smart Pick

These teams just met in Week 16 of last season: a 49-17 Minnesota blowout. But that game was played under different circumstances; the Vikings were chasing a division title, while New York was just playing out the string. Minnesota has actually been outgained and outrushed in two of its three games this season and is coming off a big road upset. Might the Vikes be ripe for a letdown?

Betting Trends

The Giants are 2-5 SU in their last seven games against the Vikings.

The Vikings are 0-7 SU and ATS in their last seven games on Monday.

The Giants are 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 games after losing as a favorite.

All NFL betting lines and point spreads data courtesy of Bleacher Report’s official odds partner, Odds Shark. All quotes gathered firsthand, unless otherwise noted.

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