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Thanks to TV broadcasts and live streaming facilities over the internet, an
increasing number of UK sports betting fans (including yours truly) are
following NFL American football, an extremely dynamic and exciting sport, which
involves a large degree of strategy as well as brute force.
And with the 2012-13 NFL season well and truly underway - which means a slew of
games each and every week to wager on - there is no end to the NFL betting and
winning opportunities. Take tonight's big game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
and their hosts, the Minnesota Vikings.
If you're an NFL fan, you'll no doubt be aware that currently the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers are lying third in the NFC South division on a lack-luster record of
2-4, while the Minnesota Vikings are second in the NFC North division on a
none-too-shabby record of 5-2.
Vikings are the -6.5 Point Betting Favourites
And in terms of Buccaneers vs Vikings odds, most land and online sportsbooks
have the Vikings as the -6.5 point favourites, SkyBet.com included. But such is
the nature of this sport that anything can happen, which is why games like this
can be deceptive, especially from a betting standpoint.
Looking at Minnesota, despite displaying a passing attack game that was just
plain bad last time out against the Arizona Cardinals, the Vikings still managed
to rack up a 21-14 win, thanks to a rock solid defensive lineup and the
unquestionable skills of talented running back Adrian Peterson.
While they clearly need to sort out their passing game issues, they can breath
small sigh of relief that this evening at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, they'll
be going up against the Buccaneers, a team that has lost nine consecutive games
on the road since it last traveled to face the Vikings.
Buccaneers Have More Holes than Emmental
Looking at Tampa Bay, the team appears to have more holes than a piece of
Emmental cheese, but they do have a few things going for them. For one, the
Buccaneers' run defense is third in the NFL, allowing just 76 yards per game.
And for another, quarterback Josh Freeman seems to finally be pulling the
offense together.
And while the expectation by most NFL oddsmakers and betting fans is that the
Bucs will extend the above stat to 10 road losses while the Vikings chalk up
their fifth straight home game win this season, as I mentioned already, anything
can happen in football, which is why I'll be backing the Bucs.
Call me crazy, but something is telling me that tonight (Thursday, 25 October
2012) will mark the turning point for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this season. If
I'm right, I'll take a bow as the great NFL punter I see myself as. And if I'm
wrong, I'll put it down to the course of antihistamines I'm on.
Buccaneers vs Vikings odds at Sky Bet
A Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+6.5) 10/11
H Minnesota Vikings (-6.5) 10/11
Posted by Anton Johan at 13:57 on 25 October 2012
