How 'bout that Mike Zimmer?
" The Falcons are a formidable first-week opponent for sure, but I like the Vikings a lot in this spot for a number of reasons. To start, Minnesota has a great home-field advantage. They also have a great coaching advantage. When you combine the two, the results are really impressive. As SportsLine's Kenny White noted on the Pick Six Podcast during the preseason, Mike Zimmer is 52-28 against the spread (65%) and is 28-14 against the spread at home over the last five years, good for a 67 percent hit rate. That's ridiculous and we're only getting a single extra point baked into the average home-field advantage number. "
Will Brinson, CBS SPORTS.com
Solid numbers. Actually VERY solid numbers. I'm a big believer in historical facts like this, they are generally proven true.....until they're unproven. If I were a betting man, I would definitely take take the Vikes and give the points.
My only caveat to this game is.....this is the same dude who picked the Vikings to not only MAKE this season's Super Bowl, but to WIN it. That would mean winning at LEAST 3 consecutive playoff games (last time the Vikings have won as many as TWO in a row was in January 1988), as well as beating that many WINNING teams in PRIME TIME games. I don't think I need to post Cousins' lifetime record in those type of games. We ALL know. Not sure if his pick in this game is simply to justify that WILDLY ridiculous SB selection, but it sure as hell has to factor into it. You can't have your SB winning favorite losing in their home opener to a previous season's non-playoff team, right?
But as I said, I anticipate a Vikings victory this Sunday, probably by 6-10 points. My guess would be 27-20 or thereabouts.....Although I certainly wouldn't be shocked if Atlanta won. I don't think they are a great team by any stretch, but Matt Ryan might be due to have a good game against a Zimmer D.
All the talk and prognostications are over. Time to get it on. I'm anticipating a Vikings team between 7-9 and 10-6, possible playoff berth, no playoff wins. PROVE me wrong, dudes!
PEACE.
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