posted December 31, 2008 at 12:30 EST in NFL Betting Trends
NFL Playoff Betting Eagles vs Vikings Simulation
by Mike Rose

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Minnesota Vikings 4:30 ET FOX
Weather: Indoors
The Philadelphia Eagles (9-6-1, 10-6 ATS) improbable run to the playoffs continues Sunday afternoon when it invades the HHH Metrodome to tangle with the Minnesota Vikings (10-6, 6-10 ATS) in the final playoff sports betting match-up of the weekend; kick-off is slated for 4:30 ET and the game can be seen nationally on FOX. The Eagles juiced out on the road for NFL bettors compiling a 4-4 ATS mark, while Minnesota struggled against the pointspread at home by going 3-5 ATS.
So many things had to go right in the morning session for the Philadelphia Eagles just to have a shot at going to the playoffs with a win against Dallas. Once everything shockingly went their way, the Eagles wasted no time in disposing of their lesser opponent and cruised to the decisive 44-6 home win and cover. After the dreadful tie at Cincinnati and pathetic effort at Baltimore, the Eagles won four of their last five both SU and ATS to close out their regular season campaign.
All Minnesota had to do last week was win against the Giants to secure themselves of a playoff seed. After finding themselves down 19-10 in the 3rd quarter, the Vikings offense rallied with 10 unanswered points to secure the SU win. It didn’t come without drama though as K Ryan Longwell’s last second FG attempt looked like a wounded duck, but it had just enough to sneak past the left upright too punch the Vikes tickets into the post-season.
These teams last met in October of last season where the Eagles went into Minnesota and upended the Vikings 23-16 as one-point road underdogs. Philly’s actually won four in a row both SU and ATS dating back to the 2001 season against the NFC North representatives. That said; the home team is 4-1 ATS the L/5 meetings, but Minnesota is a poor 0-4 ATS when installed a home underdog up to three points, and the Eagles are a solid 10-4 ATS their L/14 road games. Minnesota failed to cover the points against Indianapolis in the only game they were dogged at home this season, and the Eagles went 2-3 ATS as a road chalk.
FINAL SCORE: PHILADELPHIA 24 MINNESOTA 17
This game simulation calls for a Philadelphia cover and for the game to barely go under the posted ‘Total’. You can get Philadelphia (-3) –120 and the under 42 –110 at BetUS.com right now!!!
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
FINAL |
|
PHILADELPHIA |
7 |
7 |
7 |
3 |
24 |
MINNESOTA |
0 |
3 |
7 |
7 |
17 |
QB Donovan McNabb: 16/26 151 yards 1 TD 1 INT
QB Tarvaris Jackson: 22/33 207 yards 1 TD 2 INT
RB Brian Westbrook: 29 carries for 144 yards 2 TD Long of 34
RB Adrian Peterson: 26 carries for 86 yards 1 TD Long of 27
WR DeSean Jackson: 5 receptions for 55 yards 1 TD Long of 17
WR Bernard Berrian: 7 receptions for 82 yards 1 TD Long of 22
3RD DOWN CONV
PENALTIES
TIME OF POSSESSION
PHI |
MIN |
|
TOTAL OFFENSE |
345 |
352 |
RUSHING YARDS |
194 |
145 |
PASSING YARDS |
151 |
207 |
1ST DOWNS |
19 |
16 |
TOTAL YARDS |
430 |
422 |
TURNOVERS |
1 |
3 |
3RD DOWN CONV |
6/19 32% |
9-105 |
PENALTIES |
2-20 |
9-105 |
TIME OF POSSESSION |
27:45 |
32:15 |
The Vikings played as even a game as possible with the Eagles save for the plethora of costly penalties called against them on both sides of the ball. It also didn’t help that QB Tarvaris Jackson showed the gross inability to make sound decisions at the most crucial of times. Two of his three thrown INT’s couldn’t have come at a worse time. RB Brian Westbrook chewed up and spit the Vikings defense out much like he has too many other stout run defenses in the past. QB McNabb had a mediocre day at best, but the Eagles got the job done in a very hostile environment to keep their dream of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy alive for at least one more week….



