NFL: MIN Vikings vs NY Giants

The 11-4 Minnesota Vikings have already clinched their second straight NFC North title, but they are killing their momentum heading into the postseason with losses in three of their last four games. The good news is they return home, where they are a perfect 7-0 this season, to face a New York Giants team that has been eliminated from the postseason. Vikings out of sync before postseason Brett Favre will have to do all the work for the Vikings. Favre ironically is one of the few Minnesota players not struggling at the moment, and based on how porous New York’s secondary has been, you’d have to think that Favre will continue to thrive. The Giants were just completely humiliated. After a Monday night blowout, they apparently thought they’d have an easy game against the 6-8 Panthers. They didn’t show up, and were consequently gashed by Jonathan Stewart and a hot Carolina team for 247 yards on the ground. Humiliated The big question heading into this game is if New York will show up. It certainly didn’t show up at home last week against Carolina when it had every reason to. The Giants don’t have anything left to play for except pride as they will miss out on the postseason for the first time since 2004. If New York does show up, it may be able to take a page out of Chicago’s book and hurt the Vikings through the air. Wide receiver Steve Smith, who leads the NFC with 97 catches, could be poised for a big day. Betting prediction Are the Vikings fading? They could be playing for the #1 seed, or they could find themselves as a Wild Card. The Giants are playing for pride after one of the most humiliating losses in Giants history. But do they have enough motivation? I’m thinking not. Viking have something to play for and to show what are they capable of. They will win this one.

Our tip: Bet 6 on Vikings to beat the Giants -9 handicap
Odds: 1.96