Are the Minnesota Vikings NFL Super Bowl Contenders?

Even though the Minnesota Vikings enter their Week 15 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts with a chance to pick up their 11th victory of the 2022 NFL season, they still aren't being given convincing odds to win the Super Bowl. Does that seem fair?

On its face, no, this doesn't seem particularly fair. Fewer than five teams have hit the 10-win plateau. The Vikings are one of them. They warrant plenty of respect. Then again, skeptics are not without reason to doubt Minnesota. The Vikings have played out one of the more favorable schedules to date, thanks in large part to squaring off against a rather weak NFC North Division.

Still, to treat them as fringe favorites or underdogs on a weekly basis takes the justified criticism a little too far. And yet, that's what we see once again in Week 15. Just look at the latest NFL online betting odds, which we grabbed from BetUS:

Favorite			Underdog
Kansas City Chiefs	-460	+360	Seattle Seahawks

First and foremost, please remember to double-check these online NFL betting odds until you actually submit your wager. Our Vikings vs. Colts betting odds are accurate entering Tuesday, December 13. With the game not kicking off until Saturday, December 17, at 1 p.m. EST, the linemakers will have loads of time to adjust their football betting odds based on the initial action.

Finding the right sportsbook to use for all your NFL online betting is a good step toward ensuring you always have the latest lines at your disposal. That's where our reviews of the top online sportsbooks come in. They're teeming with all the information you need to spot the best NFL betting sites in 2022.

With all of this being said, should you view the Minnesota Vikings as legitimate Super Bowl contenders? And should the outcome against the Indianapolis Colts factor into that sentiment at all? And speaking of that outcome, what will it be? We've got piping-hot Vikings vs. Colts picks ready to rock below.

The Minnesota Vikings Should be Heavier Favorites to Win Against the Indianapolis Colts

Distrust in the Vikings is not unearned. While they enter Week 15 at 10-3, they actually have a negative point differential. Minnesota has scored 312 points on the season yet surrendered 313.

That isn't a positive sign. It also isn't a harbinger of doom. The data is largely skewed by the 40-3 thumping they suffered at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys in November. Minnesota has otherwise been a largely consistent team. They don't always blow out the opposition, but they protect the football, have big-play potential out of shotguns and know how to extend possessions.

The Vikings' passing defense does warrant some concern. They are 32nd in net yards allowed per passing attempt and 24th in points allowed per game overall. But this isn't much of a concern against the Colts, who deploy one of the worst passing attacks in the game. Indianapolis ranks 29th in net yards allowed per passing attempt and 31st in interceptions thrown.

To put it bluntly, this should be an easy victory for the Vikings—particularly when you consider they're playing in Minnesota, where they're 6-1 on the year.

OSB Prediction: Minnesota Vikings (-198)

Minnesota Vikings To beat the Indianapolis Colts

-198

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Minnesota is a Risky Point Spread Bet vs. Indianapolis...But Still Worthwhile

Here are the latest NFL point spread betting odds for the Vikings vs. Colts game in Week 15:

Minnesota Vikings, -4 (-110)
Indianapolis Colts, +4 (-110)

Home cooking should favor the Vikings' point spread. The Colts defense has predominantly held up against opposing offenses this year, but they just let up 54 points to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 14.

Beyond that, Minnesota tends to go kaboom when playing on their own turf. Their six wins at home have come by an average of 7.8 points. Tack on the fact that Indianapolis has now lost six of their past seven games, and we're feeling pretty good about the Vikings taking this one by more than a touchdown.

OSB Prediction: Minnesota Vikings, -4 (-110)

Minnesota Vikings To cover the spread vs the Indianapolis Colts

-110

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Over/Under Bettors are in for a Clash of Styles Between the Vikings and the Colts

Below you can see the latest NFL over/under betting odds for the Colts vs. Vikings game in Week 15:

Over 48.5 (-110)
Under 48.5 (-110)

Minnesota has been one of the best "over" bets in the league this year. They've cleared it in eight of their 13 games. Indianapolis, on the other hand, has been an under machine. They've hit that in nine of their 13 contests.

A 48.5-point spread is a fairly large ask. We believe the Vikings and Colts will clear it. Minnesota's defense is generally forgiving when they get out to a big league, and their own offense has fared incredibly well at home.

If the Colts were defending like they were to start the season, we might feel differently. But they're not. Opponents have tallied 24 or more points against them in three of their past five games. We are a little concerned that Indianapolis won't hold up their end of the bargain on the side of the ball. But like we said, the Minnesota secondary is fickle enough to surrender a big play or three.

Vikings and Colts To score over 48.5 points combined