09-23-2024, 04:48 PM
Before the season, bookmakers and bettors alike didn't give the Minnesota Vikings much of a chance. The Vikings had 100-1 odds to win the Super Bowl at ESPN BET, tied for seventh longest, with a preseason win total of 6.5, their lowest since 2014.
Three weeks later, the narrative has been turned upside down. Minnesota is 3-0 with wins over the Giants, San Francisco 49ers and Houston Texans, the latter two of whom were seen as legitimate championship contenders entering the season. The Vikes were one-point favorites against the Giants, then 3.5-point underdogs to the 49ers and 1.5-point 'dogs to the Texans, the past two wins coming at home
This makes Minnesota the first team since the 2015 Atlanta Falcons to win its first three games outright despite not being more than a one-point favorite in any of them, according to ESPN Research. Bettors didn't believe the Vikings would turn it around for Week 3, as Houston's spread gathered the majority of bets and handle at ESPN BET and BetMGM.
As a result of the hot start, Minnesota is flying up the Super Bowl odds board. Kevin O'Connell's squad moved to +7500 after winning in Week 1 to +4000 after the upset win in Week 2, and now it sits at +3000 at ESPN BET, tied for 13th in the league. At DraftKings, the Vikes garnered the third-most bets and handle on Super Bowl futures placed Sunday.
Minnesota's hot start has been by the grace of resurgent quarterback Sam Darnold. Through three weeks, the USC product has 657 passing yards, for 8.4 per attempt, as well as a league-leading eight TD passes.
In the MVP betting market, Darnold has moved from not even being offered at ESPN BET to 100-1 before Week 3 to +3500 following the most recent action. He's tied with Dak Prescott and Jared Goff for the 10th spot on the list.
Bettors are starting to believe in Darnold's play as well: On Sunday, he was the most-bet player to win the league's highest individual honor at DraftKings, taking 41% of wagers and 37% of money.
Three weeks later, the narrative has been turned upside down. Minnesota is 3-0 with wins over the Giants, San Francisco 49ers and Houston Texans, the latter two of whom were seen as legitimate championship contenders entering the season. The Vikes were one-point favorites against the Giants, then 3.5-point underdogs to the 49ers and 1.5-point 'dogs to the Texans, the past two wins coming at home
This makes Minnesota the first team since the 2015 Atlanta Falcons to win its first three games outright despite not being more than a one-point favorite in any of them, according to ESPN Research. Bettors didn't believe the Vikings would turn it around for Week 3, as Houston's spread gathered the majority of bets and handle at ESPN BET and BetMGM.
As a result of the hot start, Minnesota is flying up the Super Bowl odds board. Kevin O'Connell's squad moved to +7500 after winning in Week 1 to +4000 after the upset win in Week 2, and now it sits at +3000 at ESPN BET, tied for 13th in the league. At DraftKings, the Vikes garnered the third-most bets and handle on Super Bowl futures placed Sunday.
Minnesota's hot start has been by the grace of resurgent quarterback Sam Darnold. Through three weeks, the USC product has 657 passing yards, for 8.4 per attempt, as well as a league-leading eight TD passes.
In the MVP betting market, Darnold has moved from not even being offered at ESPN BET to 100-1 before Week 3 to +3500 following the most recent action. He's tied with Dak Prescott and Jared Goff for the 10th spot on the list.
Bettors are starting to believe in Darnold's play as well: On Sunday, he was the most-bet player to win the league's highest individual honor at DraftKings, taking 41% of wagers and 37% of money.
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