NFC Conference Championship

Minnesota Vikings @ New Orleans Saints

Super Bowl Odds: Saints +215, Vikings +465

Bookmaker Odds (Bookmaker Reviews): Saints -3.5, O/U 52.

The Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints were the two best teams in the NFC this year and on Sunday, they’ll square off in their most important game of the season. It’s win or go home time for both teams and at this point, winning means you get to play for all the marbles in a couple of weeks in Miami and going home means you’ll be sore for about six months thinking about what you missed.

The Vikings have the taller order in this game because they have been tough to beat at home this year but very easy to topple on the road. So far this year, the Vikings have yet to lose at home in nine tries but on the road, they have won just four of eight contests.

The biggest reason for that has been that running back Adrian Peterson has not been himself recently. Sure, he finished the season with 18 rushing touchdowns but at closer look, his yards per carry were not so hot.

Over his last eight games, Peterson failed to top the 100-yard rushing mark in any game and on the season, Peterson has just three such games. For the Vikings to win on the road this weekend, they’ll need to run the ball successfully, control the clock and keep that potent Saints offense on the sideline.

That’s what the game boils down to. If Peterson can run well and the Vikings can dictate the pace, they’ll win. Otherwise, the Saints will likely run away with it in a different manner.

The Saints have one of the best passing offenses in the NFL and the Vikings pass defense is not so hot. If those two are left on the field more than necessary, the Saints will run away with a double-digit win.

Pick: Saints -3.5