Can Tebow and the Broncos get their fifth straight win against the Vikings?
The Denver Broncos will be fighting for their fifth consecutive win when they travel to Minnesota on Sunday. But YouWager and other major online sportsbooks, along with most of the sports betting public, have favored the Vikings by 1.5 points, with the over/under at 37.5.
Still trying to recover from quarterback trouble that goes back to Brett Favre, the Minnesota Vikings are limping through the end of the season at 2-9 straight up, and 4-5-2 against the spread. Signing Donovan McNabb didn’t help much, and now it looks like star running back Adrian Peterson’s ankle injury could keep him out of the game, too.
Paying on the sidelines makes Tim Tebow look like he’s getting extra help in the fourth quarter, with three fourth quarter rallies and two overtime victories under his belt now. But, as YouWager’s NFL betting experts point out, there are certain realities to contend with here. Tebow has not demonstrated the kind of passing ability that usually wins big games in the NFL. However, he does seem to throw better when the game depends on it. For the first half of his games, his passing rating, at 64.9 puts him at the bottom of the NFL. But in the fourth quarter, his success rate puts him at the top. “Tebow has run the ball 52 times in his last four games,” says a senior NFL betting pro at YouWager. “It looks like Coach John Fox has him only throwing short or long to avoid the risk of interceptions with the medium range passes. Accuracy is clearly an issue.” While Tebow has gotten a lot of credit for Denver’s winning streak, Willis McGahee and a solid defensive effort should not be overlooked. Denver rushed for 208 yards against San Diego as McGahee grabbed 117 yards. This Broncos defensive squad has not permitted opponents to gain more than 13 points in their last three games, and their pass rush has been very effective. Elvis Dumervil got two sacks last week and he is 5.5 for the year. Teammate Von Miller has 10.5 and will probably be named the NFL’s defensive rookie of the year.
In their last three games, the Vikings have been outscored 58-7 in the first half. If this trend continues, Tebow might not need to pray so much in the fourth quarter.
In their recent loss to Atlanta (24-14), Minnesota was 17-0 at the half. They tried to rally but could never get closer than three points. Rookie quarterback Christian Ponder passed for 186 yards and a touchdown, but without Peterson to run the ball, Atlanta was able to easily launch an air attack. RB Peterson’s status for Sunday is still a question mark at this point for YouWager’s NFL betting fans.
Denver’s chances of a fifth straight win on the road are improved by Minnesota’s lousy record for home games: The Vikings are 1-4 straight up and 2-2-1 against the spread. Also, the Vikings are 0-3 against AFC West teams going 1-2 against the number. Denver is 7-22-1 against the spread in their last 30 games when they are up against a team with a losing record.
Believe in the power of prayer? Take the Broncos and the UNDER. The Denver Broncos are currently 1.5 underdogs at YouWager. The over/under is 37.5.
Game time on Sunday is 1PM Eastern.
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