There's just one more round of football before Super Bowl odds. Here's a preview of the NFC Championship Game:
Minnesota Vikings @ New Orleans Saints
NFL betting odds: Saints -4
5Dimes Odds For Total (5Dimes Reviews): 52.5
Money line: Saints -205, Vikings + 170
Here is a position by position breakdown
QB: Favre vs. Brees
This battle of two Pro Bowl quarterbacks will come down to what their athletes can do on the field. Assuming the Vikings secondary is as bad as it was at the end of the season and the Saints Secondary is as good as it was last week
Advantage: Saints
RB: Peterson vs. Thomas, Bush et al.
Adrian Peterson is one of the best in the game and will show up on the grand stage. The Saints have not looked shabby either, with Reggie Bush regaining his Heisman form and confidence. Still, Peterson is a beast.
Advantage: Vikings
Receivers: Rice, Harvin, Berrian, Shiancoe, C. Taylor vs. Colston, Moore, Henderson, Meachem, Shockey, Bush
The Vikings will have to get Berrian and Harvin going in this game as they have been silent for months now. Harvin hasn't been the same since early this season and Berrian has been a disappointment. Rice will be covered by top flight and now healthy CB Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter will be on the other side also healthy. This secondary will force Favre to throw to his other options. On the other side, Brees is going to have a field day. Shockey is a mismatch for everyone, Colston requires double coverage and Bush is explosive out in screens and in the flats and requires a spy.
Advantage: Saints
O-Line/D-Line
The Vikings once heralded O-Line has been very unimpressive of late. A fast blitz heavy defense with a healthy Sedrick Ellis up the gut could spell disaster for the 40 year old Favre. The Saints O-Line has been much improved but has not faced the likes of Jared Allen and the Williams's duo and Ray Edwards. Still I like the Saints' blitzes to confuse the Vikings O-line more than the power of the Vikings D-line disrupting the quick thinking Drew Brees.
Advantage: Saints
Coverage
The Saints use a 4-3 defense that boast when healthy, great coverage. They are healthy at the right time of the season as Jabari Greer, Tracy Porter, Darren Sharper, and rookie Malcom Jenkins all over the field. The Vikings have an injured Antoine Winfield who couldn't even cover Devin Aromashadou in week 16 and Madieu Williams and Cedric Griffin. If the Vikings have a weakness it's their secondary.
Advantage: Saints
Key Injuries
The Vikings MLB E.J. Henderson was lost for the season in week 13. He was having a career year and was the quarterback of this defense. 3rd stringer Jasper Brinkley fills the role now and the Vikings suffered two losses at the end of the season because of it. Banged-up: Vikings DE Ray Edwards (knee) and Saints WR Robert Meachem (foot).
Coaching
Sean Payton is one of the best coaches in football. Brad Childress can't control his QB.
Advantage: Saints
NFL Picks: The Saints sweep almost all the categories and should win easy. NFL Picks: Saints 34- Vikings 20
