Sep 10, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (22) warms up before the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Vikings’ regular season kicks off in 61 days with a date in New Jersey against the New York Giants. The purple team is a one-point underdog in what might be one of its “easiest” games of the season.
The 2023 Vikings ended up with a 7-10 record following a quarterback carousel that turned out to be Kirk Cousins’ last season in purple. Accordingly, with Cousins in Atlanta, most oddsmakers aren’t high on the franchise this season.
And as an example, take a look at the Vikings’ 2024 odds. They’re listed in descending order (No. 1 = odds to win the Super Bowl).
The Moneyline: +280
Frontrunner: Kansas City Chiefs (-470)
Worst Odds: New England Patriots (+920)
Minnesota, of course, can prove everyone wrong and reach the postseason as a Wildcard combatant or otherwise, but with the regular season about two months away, no sportsbook believes it’s all that possible.
The NFC North is suddenly stacked, and even if the purple team finished 9-8, it could be in last place inside the division.
The Moneyline: +950
Frontrunner: Detroit Lions (+135)
Worst Odds: Minnesota Vikings (+950)
The +950 odds here are astounding, especially with the Chicago Bears situated at +300. In short, oddsmakers think the Bears are leaps and bounds better than Minnesota. A 9.5% shot at winning the NFC North is Vegas’ way of saying, “Not gonna happen.”
The Moneyline: +3600
Frontrunner: Kansas City Chiefs (+370) | San Francisco 49ers (+290)
Worst Odds: New England Patriots (+10000) | Carolina Panthers (+10000)
Minnesota hasn’t reached a Super Bowl in 48 years. The last time occurred at the beginning of Jimmy Carter’s administration.
Sadly, because the quarterback mystery is so large, the Vikings are a humongous underdog to play February football.
The Moneyline: +8000
Frontrunner: Kansas City Chiefs (+550)
Worst Odds: Carolina Panthers (+30000)
Of course, Minnesota has never won a Super Bowl. And in the year when Sam Darnold came aboard as QB1, with a side dish of rookie passer J.J. McCarthy, the sportsbetting powers that be don’t think the drought will end.
Per the court of public opinion — in this case, Super Bowl odds — Minnesota is a bedfellow with the Arizona Cardinals and New Orleans Saints, teams with +800 odds to win it all.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, Basset Hounds, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.