- 1,277
- 86
- 48
Opening line: Vikings -3; Over/Under 47
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET Sunday (FOX)
UPDATE 6 P.M. ET THURSDAY: This line has been almost rock-solid at Caesars, with Minnesota a 3-point chalk much of the week. The number briefly touched Vikes -2.5 early Monday, but has otherwise been painted to -3.
Spread tickets and money are almost dead even, with a slim nod to the Vikings. However, on the moneyline, tickets are 3/1-plus and money 9/1 on the underdog Giants (+140).
“This felt like a dead-solid 3. This was probably the easiest line to make for the opening round,” Caesars' Adam Pullen said. “We say the same thing about the Vikings every week: They're just in so many close games. A field goal isn’t a big spread, but the perception is that if they’re going to win, it’s going to be by three. [Brian] Daboll has done a fantastic job in his first year [as Giants coach], and they’ve had a great spread record as underdogs and overall. Either team winning wouldn’t be a shock, and everything is pointing to a close game.”
The total opened at 47.5, spent much of the past four days at 48.5 and is now 48. Caesars' splits aren't available tonight.
UPDATE MIDNIGHT ET SUNDAY: Minnesota went 13-4 SU this season, but just 7-9-1 ATS, as the Vikings won 11 games by 8 points or less, ostensibly one score. In Week 18, the Vikes broke that mold with a 29-13 road victory as 6.5-point favorites against an undermanned Chicago outfit.
Meanwhile, New York went just 9-7-1 SU, but led the NFL with a 13-4 ATS mark. In Week 18, the Giants – starting a sea of backups, including QB Davis Webb – were in a 19-0 hole at Philadelphia. New York ultimately lost 22-16, but covered once again as massive 16.5-point underdogs.
"We took some respected money on the Giants +3, moving us to +3 (-120)," The SuperBook's Casey Degnon said of early activity in the NFL Super Wild Card Playoffs odds market. "This game was just played a couple weeks ago, and it was very competitive so it's not surprising to see the Giants get some early love. I think at some point, we will see some public money on the Vikings as we get closer to game day. We are also up a half point on the total, to 47.5.
As Degnon noted, No. 3 seed Minnesota and No. 6 seed New York have very recent history. In Week 16, the Vikings – laying 4.5 points at home against the Giants – got a 61-yard Greg Joseph field goal in the final seconds to win 27-24.