Minnesota Vikings vs. New York Jets Pick

Minnesota Vikings (3-2-1 SU, 3-2-1 ATS) vs. New York Jets (3-3 SU, 3-3 ATS)
NFL Week 7
Date/Time: Sunday, October 21st, 2018 –1:00 PM ET
Where: MetLife Stadium – East Rutherford, NJ
TV: CBS
By: Keith Franks, NFL Football Handicapper, Predictem.com

Point Spread: Minnesota -3 / New York +3 (GTbets)
Over/Under Total: 47

Due to NFL scheduling constraints, Minnesota and New York meet every four years as this one is an NFC vs. AFC contest. The Jets have more or less had Minnesota’s number winning seven straight against the Purple People Eaters dating back to 1979 before the most recent meeting between both sides in 2014. In the last meeting, Minnesota defeated New York in overtime by a score of 30-24 in the Twin Cities.

Vikings Move Past Arizona

There was a lot of hype surrounding Minnesota in the off-season as a potential representative for the NFC in the Super Bowl. This kind of hype saw Minnesota as a 16.5-point favorite at home against the Buffalo Bills in Week 3. Minnesota however would lay perhaps the biggest egg this season and fall 27-6. Since then, the perception of this team has changed dramatically. Especially after they lost to the other titan of this conference, the Los Angeles Rams on the road in the following week by a score of 38-31. In this game, Minnesota’s vaunted defense got exposed as it gave up 450 yards through the air to Los Angeles quarterback Jared Goff.

However, Minnesota comes into this game riding a two-game winning streak, capped off by a 27-17 win at home against the Arizona Cardinals where the Vikings managed to get a push as a 10-point favorite. Prior to this, the Vikings defeated the defending Super Bowl Champions the Philadelphia Eagles in the City of Brotherly Love by a score of 23-21. This is definitely Minnesota’s most impressive win on the season. Cynics have since changed their perspective of this team to be more favorable.

Jets Win Big Again

After losing three straight, Gang Green looks like a different football team in their last two outings. The Jets are now riding a two-game winning streak earned against both the Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts at home. In these two contests, the Jets have outscored the opposition 76-50 generating two covers in the process. New York has become a cash cow despite much of the public being reluctant to back them.

A focal point of the Jets offensive prowess is their rushing attack as it remains the seventh best in the NFL at 130.3 yards per game. Anchored by Bilal Powell and Isaiah Crowell, this team has run up, down, and around everything it has come across in their last two outings. However, a popular idea is that this will come to an end against a Minnesota defense that only gives up 93 yards per game (9th in the NFL).

How The Public Is Betting This Game

The market opened with the Jets taking back a field goal and since then we haven’t seen any line movements. Given the fact that Minnesota is required to lay a touchdown less than what it was required to last week, the low number seems quite appetizing to the naked eye. Minnesota has been the popular choice here as 70% of the public likes them from a consensus perspective. These metrics have been followed up with 75% of the public cash and 71% of the ticket action also coming in on the Vikings in this game. Moreover, 100% of the cash, ticket, and consensus like the Over in this market. Two online sportsbooks have told us that the Jets are starting to show in bettors teasers as they seek to give them more than a touchdown to work with. Other sportsbooks have said it is too early to say if the Jets will land in many exotic bets. 

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NFL Pick: New York Jets +3

It is very easy to pull the trigger here on the Vikings here with a low number to cover. However, the Jets seem to be coming into their own on both sides of the football. The defense has played well all season long and generated plenty of turnovers with 19 takeaways throughout the 2018 campaign. The difference now is the Jets seem to be capitalizing with their offensive weapons. Jets rookie quarterback Sam Darnold has come into his own in distributing the football. In the last two weeks, he has thrown touchdown passes to three different receivers whilst tossing five touchdowns as a whole. Plus, he completed 80% of his passes against Indianapolis on Sunday which means he is making better decisions with the football, a true sign of maturation. He has a good match-up here against a Minnesota defense that sits 20th in the league against the pass (266.8 yards per game). When you take this into consideration, the Jets have an ace in their hole should their rushing attack falter. With home field tossed into the mix, the Jets look to be a good Money Line play, let alone taking the points.