Can Adrian Peterson Lead The NFL In Rushing?
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The NFL season regular season starts in less than a month. That means predictions of who will make the playoffs and who will have standout seasons are coming out almost daily.
That mainly happens in the media and football experts, but Las Vegas casinos are no exception. After all, why not put your money where your mouth is and try to make some money off that prediction? The Bovada sports book in Las Vegas has released its preseason odds for certain leaders in NFL statistics by the end of the season.
That's not far removed from their odds for who will win the NFL MVP award.
Bovada released its odds for a passing leader, a rushing leader and a receiving leader. The Vikings were represented on two of these lists. It might be a surprise what list they are not on.
Adrian Peterson Top Odds To Lead NFL in Rushing
It should come as little surprise that Adrian Peterson has the best odds to lead the NFL in rushing this year. Bovada has him at 7/2 odds, ahead of Jamaal Charles, Marshawn Lynch and DeMarco Murray, who are all at 8/1 odds.
Peterson is one of the top running backs in football and only played in one game last year after the fallout from a child abuse case and NFL suspension. If he stays healthy, he should finish the year among the top running backs in football. Two years ago, he ran for 1,266 yards and in 2012, he ran for 2,097 yards coming off major knee surgery and almost broke the NFL's single-season rushing record.
Between having a year off and getting a majority of the carries, Peterson is poised to have a big season.
Teddy Bridgewater 100/1 Odds To Lead NFL in Passing
Not surprisingly, Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is not expected to be among the top passers in the NFL this year. He's entering just his second season, will have one of the best running backs in football in the offense and a top go-to receiver has yet to be established. The Vikings are hoping that will be Mike Wallace, but that won't be known until the season starts.
Bovata has Bridgewater at 100/1 odds to lead to the NFL in passing with seven other quarterbacks. Andrew Luck leads with 7/2 odds, followed by Aaron Rodgers at 4/1 as well as Peyton Manning and Ben Roethlisberger at 7/1.
In the odds game, Bridgewater is paired with Jay Cutler of the Bears, Andy Dalton of the Bengals, Nick Foles of the Rams, Marcus Mariota of the Titans, Cam Newton of the Panthers, Russell Wilson of the Seahawks and Jameis Winston of the Buccaneers. Vikings fans will be hoping Bridgewater finishes a little higher on that list by the end of the year.
No Vikings Wide Receivers Make Bovada List
Bovada has a method to its madness with odds, and officials there apparently know the Vikings are still looking for a go-to receiver. Not one Vikings receiver is among the 37 listed on their list to have a chance to lead the NFL in receiving.
The three with the top odds are Antonio Brown at 11/2, Julio Jones at 13/2 and Odell Beckham at 9/1. Dez Bryant, Calvin Johnson and Demaryius Thomas are all alos at 9/1 odds.
The Vikings are hoping free agent acquisition Mike Wallace can emerge as a leading wide receiver, but he hasn't done much in the preseason to this point. Other options include Cordarrelle Patterson, Jarius Wright and Charles Johnson. The other issue: They are also looking for a big year out of tight end Kyle Rudolph.
