Apparently, Sportsbooks Have Not Learned Their Lesson on the Minnesota Vikings

This time last year, the Minnesota Vikings drafted their QB of the future J.J. McCarthy, with the intention of putting him on the field sooner rather than later. Unfortunately, a preseason meniscus tear put an end to that idea. , So, the Sam Darnold-led Minnesota Vikings shocked the football world and won fourteen games.

Fast forward back to the present. Sam Darnold is gone and the team is now squarely in McCarthy’s hands. Most importantly, Kevin O’Connell — who’s coming off his first Coach of the Year award — is still running the show and calling plays.

Still, that doesn’t really excite a lot of the sportsbooks. Even after underestimating the Minnesota Vikings just one season ago, just to be embarrassed, Vegas is yet again selling the purple’s chances in 2025.

Minnesota Vikings favored in just seven games

Last year, the Minnesota Vikings opened at a shockingly low over/under of just 6.5 regular season wins. As previously mentioned, the won more than double that. Now entering 2025 offseason workouts, we’re seeing more of the same. As of Tuesday, DraftKings Sportsbook has the Vikings as the favored team in just seven of their regular season games, and winners of just 8.5 games total.

Of the 17 games, the @Vikings opened as favorites in ONLY 7 games, per @DKSportsbook.

At Bears: +1.5
Falcons: -4.5
Bengals: -1.5
At Steelers: -1.5
At Browns: -7
Eagles: +3
At Chargers: +3
At Lions: +4.5
Ravens: +3.5
Bears: -2.5
At Packers: +3.5
At Seahawks: +1.5
Commanders: +1.5… pic.twitter.com/h1Vf4meLK0

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) May 15, 2025

There is an understandable amount of uncertainty when it comes to a new quarterback. That said, the Vikings went gangbusters in free agency and loaded up in the trenches on both sides of the ball. They also added a starting guard in Donovan Jackson with their first round pick.

The two-win jump is a modest one for a team that won substantially more than that a year ago. Of course there aren’t many more wins for an NFL to capture beyond 14, but there’s a possibility Minnesota is better despite winning a few less games.

Yes, they need another cornerback. Still though, they have enough talent to be a better collection than last year even if they don’t win as many games. There are still other question marks on this roster too. But after what we saw last season, I’m not sure how you can doubt the Minnesota Vikings entering 2025.