NFL Championship Game Betting: Minnesota Vikings @ New Orleans Saints

NFL / Andy Richmond / 23 January 2010 / Leave a Comment

"This is a game that features two hot quarterbacks, two teams that can run and pass the ball, and defences that played really well last week."

Two high scoring teams guided by stellar quarter-backs meet at the Superdome on Sunday in what should be a thrilling contest. Andy Richmond selects the best bets.

Drew Brees helped the New Orleans Saints score the most points in the NFL before leading his team to a convincing 31-point win in the play-offs. Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings produced the league's second-highest point total before he guided his team to its own 31-point postseason victory. The two star quarterbacks meet on Sunday in a marquee NFC championship match up at the Superdome - where Favre won his lone Super Bowl title 13 years ago.

With little between the two teams it's going to be the attention to detail that will tip this game. Both quarterbacks are having stellar seasons but if you take a look at Favre's record on the road and that of the Vikings as a whole it doesn't bear comparison with their unbeaten home record - the Vikings are 4-4 away from the Metrodome this year. Favre's threw 25 touchdown passes at home and just 12 on the road. On the road, Favre completed 68 percent of his passes, averaged 236 yards and was sacked once every 12 pass attempts. Favre is going to need one of those home-game performances on the road this week.

The Saints and Vikings are both committed to balanced offences. Last week, the Saints had 34 runs and 32 passes, while the Vikings had 33 runs and 27 pass plays called. Look for both teams to run the ball on more than half of their first downs and establish the play-action pass. Both teams are primarily known for their offence but they can play on the other side of the ball too and I think that the bigger deciding factor will be defence.

The Vikings were all over Tony Romo last week, sacking him six times. But as Brees gets the ball out faster; it will be tougher to get to him. The Vikings will pound Adrian Peterson to set up Brett Favre taking shots down the field. That will put a lot of pressure on a New Orleans defence that struggled down the stretch, but played well last week in the rout of Arizona. I don't think either defence will play close to the way they played last week. Not with these offences. Favre and Brees will both have success with shots down the field. The Vikings defence isn't as good away from their dome. But the biggest help for Brees will be his TE Jeremy Shockey - expect him to have success in the middle of the field and down near the goaline.

This is a game that features two hot quarterbacks, two teams that can run and pass the ball, and defences that played really well last week. The Saints are really tough at home, which gives them the edge here - crowd noise and the Vikings away record being the details which tip the balance.

Recommended Bets:

Back New Orleans -3.5 - 2pts at 2.0 or better

First TD Scorer ½ pt on each - Sidney Rice 13.0, Jeremy Shockey 17.0, Reggie Bush 13.0

Jeremy Shockey over 47 ½ receiving yards 1 pt at 2.2 or better