NFC Playoff Upset Alert – Dallas Cowboys vs. Minnesota Vikings

Sunday, January17th — Hubert H Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, MN — 1:00pm EST

NFL Betting Line: Minnesota Vikings -2½ (45.5)

On January 17, the Dallas Cowboy and the Minnesota Vikings will meet in the early NFL divisional playoff game. Dallas is coming in to this game riding high after winning their first playoff game in 13 years; the Vikings had a first round bye.

The BetOnline sportsbook has the Minnesota Vikings as -2½ point favorites over the Cowboys and a straight up wager on Dallas will pay NFL football betting fans +120 on the moneyline. The over/under for the game is set at 45½ points.

I’ve set my own over/under for the game at 154, I should clarify, that is the predicted total times we’ll hear Brett Favre’s name spoken by the broadcast crew. That works out to a little over 2½ times per minute of football, if the game goes to overtime that number should double. OK I’m exaggerating a little, but Brett Favre has been the broadcaster’s office wife for most of his career. I like Brett Favre, but please just call the game without all of the Favre hyperbole.

After all of the will he or won’t he in the offseason, Favre finally decided on the Vikings and it’s proved to be one of the wisest decisions this NFL season. The Vikings earned an NFC Bye and became the IT team to make it to the Super Bowl. You never want to count Brett Favre out but this could be the end of the road for the ole’ gunslinger.

The Dallas Cowboys have won four straight including a win over New Orleans, ending the Saints pursuit of a perfect season. The Cowboys defense started slow but ended the regular season with back-to-back shutouts and slowed the Philadelphia offense to two inconsequential touchdowns in their Wildcard meeting. The front four has been the difference, led by DeMarcus Ware and suddenly hot Anthony Spencer have been pressuring quarterbacks and ringing up sacks at an amazing clip. This is going to put more pressure on the Vikings offensive line and Adrian Peterson to step up their game to allow Favre to work his magic, if the O-line isn’t up to the challenge this Dallas D will put Favre in a world of hurt.

Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo won’t have an easy time on Sunday either, with Jared Allen and the Williams boys doing what they do best and that is knock the quarterback on his butt. Still even with Allen and Williams playing great, all the talk going into this game is about is the Dallas front four.

Demarcus Ware will be lined up against Bryant McKinnie, who will be in charge of protecting Favre’s blindside. It was McKinnie that was embarrassed on National TV by Julius Peppers and Ware brings much of the same intensity as Peppers, which doesn’t bode well for McKinnie or his quarterback.

When you look at the skill positions for each team, we know what Brett Favre is capable of and Tony Romo has been playing in top form. Miles Austin of the Cowboys and Sidney Rice of the Vikings have both been the beneficiaries of their QBs strong play. What will be the difference on Sunday will be how well Adrian Peterson plays. We know Peterson is a stud, can put up 150 yards, and can score three TDs on any given day, but he’s also prone to the fumble the football away.

I never want to bet against Brett Favre but I really like the Dallas defense in this game. Take Dallas +2½

NFL Free Pick: Dallas Cowboys +2½

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