The New York Giants are headed into the playoffs. They will face the Minnesota Vikings this Sunday in the Wild Card playoffs. The two teams last met on Christmas eve last year. Minnesota won the game 27-24.
The Vikings finished the regular season third with a 13-4 record. New York had already qualified for the playoffs heading to their last game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Giants rest key players and lost the game to Philadelphia. Nonetheless, they finished the season with a decent 9-7-1 record. They are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
The Giants Will be Slight Underdogs
After losing their first encounter with Minnesota last December, the Giants are headed to the playoffs as the underdogs. The New York sports betting sites listed in this full guide favor the Vikings with a 3-point spread on average, indicating they expect the game to be tight.
Indeed, Minnesota won December’s game with just a three-point difference. And this happened in the very final moments of the match—Greg Joseph kicked the field goal that iced New York’s attempt to complete a comeback.
Although they’re underdogs, New York will be heading to Minnesota with all of their key players rested. What’s more, some of their players previously sidelined with injuries will be back in action. That includes Xavier McKinney, who plays as a safety, and CB Adoree Jackson.
Giants’ Players are Excited about the Matchup
ESPN interviewed key players from the New York Giants’ roaster and they all shared high hopes for winning the upcoming game. Saquon Barkley said he was looking forward to the Minnesota game after a long dry spell from the playoffs.
Nick Gates, who plays as an Offensive lineman suggested the Giants could have won had they played a little bit more efficiently. With that in mind, New York has not been successful on the road.
They haven’t defeated a team with a winning record on the road since October when they beat the Jacksonville Jaguars. Of course, that could all change this Sunday.
The Giants performed much better than anyone expected of them. At the start of the season, the Giants had +5000 odds to win the Super Bowl. Now, they’re just a few games away from Super Bowl LVII.
Other NFL Wild Card Games—Odds and Predictions
The Seattle Seahawks will face the San Francisco 49ers as huge +10.5 underdogs. But no one is surprised. San Francisco has already played the Seahawks twice this season and they won both games.
The Dolphins will meet a supercharged Buffalo Bills in this weekend’s wild-card showdown. Miami has a chance to win the game now that they’ve already beaten Buffalo once this season. But after losing in their second matchup, bookmakers are not convinced the Fins have what it takes.
In the game between the Chargers and the Jaguars, Los Angeles is favored to win. That said, the two teams’ meetup this season ended with a triumph for Jacksonville.
When the Ravens meet the Bengals, they will hope to prove the oddsmakers wrong. They’re -5.5 underdogs despite having defeated their opponents once this season. The final Wild Card Game will be between Dallas and Tampa Bay. The Tom Brady-led side comes as underdogs.
Should You Bet on NFL Playoff Games?
Sports betting is legal in more than 20 states in the country. That includes New York, where you can bet online through a mobile sportsbook. If you choose to bet on the ongoing NFL playoff games, use the following tips:
Choose the Right Sportsbook
First things first. Choose a top-rated betting site. It needs to be licensed and secure. That means no offshore betting apps. Stick with betting companies licensed in New York or your state.
A good sportsbook delivers a delightful betting experience. Not only is your data and money safe, but you also get competitive NFL odds. You can qualify for sweet bonuses and bet on a user-friendly platform.
Look for bookies known to payout money to winners fast. Avoid betting sites with poor reviews and a history of delayed payouts.
Research NFL Games Thoroughly
You probably know this. There are no guaranteed winners and losers in sports. A team favored to win by a huge margin could end up losing. Also, winning isn’t always enough.
If you plan to place a spread bet with a +10-point difference, you want to be certain the favorite side will truly be dominant. If your preferred team wins, but not by the stated margin, you still lose.
What should you research to determine which team to back? Look at each side’s form, past head-to-head matchups, the squad, and overall performance. If one team is in excellent form and has a superior squad, it has a higher chance of winning.
Claim Betting Bonuses
Before you choose a sportsbook, look at its bonuses. You want a site that can boost your betting budget with a free bet or a 100% match on your first deposit.
With a free bet, you can wager on two playoff games. And if you win one bet and lose the other, you can still break even. Now, not all free bets and bonuses have the best terms.
Consider bonus terms before you decide to claim a free bet. If you have to spend a lot of money before you cash out your bonus winnings, it’s probably not a good deal. That said, look for bookies with plenty of promotions and not just one welcome bonus.
Avoid Parlays
Parlay bets challenge you to predict multiple fixtures to magnify your potential profits. The only catch is that you must win every prediction to earn your profits. They can be tempting. But for most people, parlays are not worth it.
Predicting one NFL game correctly is a challenge. Now imagine trying to win four games on the same weekend. The chances of losing are always higher than the odds of winning. Stick to single matches and only bet on parlays if you’re an experienced bettor.
