A new betting line has recently opened up for the 2022 NFL Season and it’s one that you need to hear about. As of February 14th, the sportsbooks have -275 listed as the betting line for the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Minnesota Vikings matchup. What does that mean? Let’s break it down.
The Meaning Of The Number
The initial -275 is simply the odds that the team that was favored by the oddsmaker will cover the point spread. On the opposite side of the line, you will find the exact same odds that the underdog team will win. The number doesn’t necessarily have to represent an exact figure, but it’s a nice round number that can be used to quickly calculate the spread and what the betting line actually is.
Let’s examine some of the more prominent point spreads that were set earlier this month. First off, the Atlanta Falcons are against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with -275 on the money line. For those that may be wondering, a money line simply means that there is no ‘wagering’ involved. The money is already on the table and all you need to do is choose which team you believe will win the contest.
The New York Giants are also on the road to a win against the Dallas Cowboys with the opener set at -275.
Another NFC matchup with the Washington Redskins as the home team is favored by -275 to win the season opener. Interestingly, the Cleveland Browns are also listed with that same spread, but they’re the favorites in that one as well.
When Does It Hit The Books?
The first game that this line appeared in was on February 14th and that was between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers. The Rams are the 5/2 favorite over the 49ers in that one and the line opened up at -500. So, for every $100 you bet on the Rams, you’ll earn $50 in profit. However, if you bet on the 49ers, you’ll only earn $23.50 for every $100 you wager.
On the other side of the country, the Pacific Division rival Oakland Raiders are the 3/1 underdog against the Kansas City Chiefs in the season opener. That line was opened up at -850, so you’ll need to pay $100 to win $85. Of course, the Chiefs are the defending champions and they’re looking to make it 4 in a row over the Raiders. This showdown will be fun to watch.
Why The Upset About The Eagles Vs. Vikings?
Let’s get into some of the key differences between the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings. First off, the teams are very, very, very different. The Eagles are clearly the best team in the NFL this year, but they have a lot of young players on their team. They’re led by a 23-year old QB named Mike Vick who has thrown over 100 passes in three of his four years in the league. He’s never played a full 16-game season and is coming off a 2018 campaign where he threw for 3,426 yards and 22 touchdowns.
The Vikings have a lot of experience at every position on their roster and they’re led by a 32-year old QB named Kirk Cousins who had a decent year last year, throwing for 3,959 yards with 20 touchdowns and only 11 interceptions. The Vikings have a new head coach in Mike Zimmer and they’re looking to build on their 12-4 campaign from a year ago. They have a lot of scoring depth and a dynamic offensive line. There’s a reason why you’ll see this game as one of the most anticipated in the NFL this year.
The other major difference between the two teams is their defense. The Eagles are led by a Hall of Famer in Trent Cole and they have a young stud in Bradley Chubb who totaled 14 sacks last season. They’ll force Cousins to win the turnover battle and they’ll put pressure on him all game. The Vikings, on the other hand, don’t have a single player over 6’5” and they don’t really have a pass-rushing threat at all. They’re going to struggle against the NFL’s best offense in the regular season opener.
What About The Browns Vs. Redskins?
The Browns are a team in a bit of a similar situation to the Eagles. They have a lot of young talent and a lot of potential, but they’re still very inexperienced. However, they do have a QB named Tyree Jackson, who was drafted 10th in this year’s draft and the line opened up at -850. He played only one season at Alabama and didn’t throw a single pass before he was drafted, but he has a promising arm and some good, old-fashioned attitude. He’s definitely worth a shot for those that want to back the underdog. He has a very comfortable lead with just over two minutes to play in the 2nd quarter and he’ll drive the team down the field for the win. They’ll also get some help from a dynamic rusher in Nick Kwiatkoski, who had 12.5 sacks in just 14 games last season. The Browns desperately need some experience at QB and a lot of the players on their roster are only 23 or 24 years old. It’s going to be interesting to see how they fare this season.
Other Games That Are Important
There are a number of other important games this season that don’t involve the Eagles or Vikings. Here is a short list of some of the more interesting matchups:
- Falcons at Buccaneers (Los Angeles Rams are 5/2 favorites);
- Giants at Dallas Cowboys (Dallas is 6/1 favorites);
- Rams at 49ers (Los Angeles is 5/2 favorites);
- Seahawks at Cardinals (Arizona is 6/1 favorites);
- Redskins at Steelers (Washington is 3/1 favorites);
- Chiefs at Raiders (Oakland is 3/1 favorites);
- Vikings at Bears (Minnesota is 6/1 favorites);
- Buccaneers at Falcons (Tampa Bay is 5/2 favorites).