The Minnesota Vikings playoff chances have taken some hits lately, but how will the team do in terms of wagering? Specifically, can coach Kevin O’Connell improve his record against the spread?
We looked at O’Connell and his success rate against the spread from his first two seasons in charge, then compared that to other coaches around the league. Here are the results:
| Category | Percentage | Rank (Among Active Coaches) |
| Against The Spread (Overall) | 45.1% | 22nd |
| Against The Spread (Home) | 33.0% | 25th |
| Against The Spread (Away) | 62.0% | 4th |
| Against The Spread (Favorite) | 47.0% | T-17th |
| Against The Spread (Underdog) | 42.0% | 22nd |
| Against The Spread (Division) | 33.0% | T-23rd |
Overall, any Ontario sports betting trends concerning O’Connell mostly don’t lean in the coach’s favor as he enters his third season at the helm in the Twin Cities.
Among all coaches returning this season, O’Connell is No. 22 for percentage ATS in all games – we used nfeloapp.com research and excluded any coaches who are entering their first year in their current head coaching job.
The one place where the Vikings coach excels against the spread is on the road, where he ranks fourth among all active coaches. His Vikings have covered 62% of the time away from home in two seasons under O’Connell, a trend that might be worth watching for Ontario sports betting apps wagering.
Otherwise, his ATS trends are all in the bottom half among coaches, including a dismal 33% success rate in covering at home. That’s last among the 25 coaches who are returning to their posts for the 2024-25 NFL season (seven teams replaced their head coaches during the offseason).
The Vikings aimed to choose their quarterback of the future in the first round of this year’s draft. Minnesota selected J.J. McCarthy No. 10 overall and he was competing for the starting job in camp when he tore his right meniscus, ending his season before it started. See our Vikings starting quarterback odds for who the candidates are, but journeyman Sam Darnold has the inside track.
Now that the preseason is over, we have a bit more insight on who will play where, not just at quarterback. Aaron Jones, who played his first seven seasons for the NFC North rival Green Bay Packers, is now the featured running back in Minnesota. All-Pro receiver wide receiver Justin Jefferson should remain the primary weapon on offense.
With McCarthy out, the only 2024 draft pick projected to start for the Vikings is kicker Will Reichard out of Alabama.
Our Minnesota Vikings betting guide at OntarioBets.com provides more insight as the NFL season gets underway.
The trend about the Vikings covering as a road team might come in handy to kick off the 2024-25 regular season.
Minnesota opens Sept. 8 against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It’s an interesting case because the spread is so close for the game (1 p.m. Eastern time). As of Aug. 26, the Vikings are listed as a 1-point favorite for the game with BetMGM, but at both Caesars and at NorthStar Bets Ontario Sportsbook, the Giants are a 1-point favorite. If you like the Vikings, it’s an interesting question: Do you want that single point at -113 with NorthStar Bets? Or ride the moneyline and get a slightly better price at -107 odds?
USA Today photo by Trevor Ruszkowski
Author
Jim Tomlin is an editor and writer specializing in sports, gambling and the intersection of those industries. He has 30+ years of journalism experience and his work has appeared in the Tampa Bay Times, FanRag, Saturday Down South and Saturday Tradition.
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