Bodog Beat

Adrian Peterson is the Minnesota Vikings running man. (AP Images)

The past few weeks have seen good news and bad news for the defending NFC North champion Minnesota Vikings. Let's start with the bad news, not that I'm a glass half-empty guy. Of course that was QB Brett Favre telling the Vikings he was going to stay retired, shocking nearly everyone in the process. You won't find anyone who doesn't believe even a soon-to-be 40-year-old Favre isn't an upgrade over Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels, who was acquired from Houston in the offseason. Favre hasn't ruled out changing his mind during the season, but it appears his Hall of Fame career is actually finished.

As for the good news, one part of that involves Jackson, who is now the odds-on favorite to be the team's starter. He went down in one of the team's first practices, causing major panic. Even Jackson admitted he was very worried about a major injury, but it turned out to be just a sprain, and he was back at practice this week. Jackson's growth is crucial to this team, no question about it.

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The second bit of good news came this week as well when defensive tackles Pat Williams and Kevin Williams got an update on their court battle with the NFL over their four-game suspensions handed down last season but not yet served. Basically state court proceedings in Minnesota were put on hold in the case, with the court saying it would not schedule a trial during the season. So unless the NFL wins a federal appeal to bring the case out of state court, the Williamses should be able to play in the first four games. An appellate court is supposed to rule before the season, but if it rules the case has to stay in state jurisdiction, that's a victory for the Vikings this season.

So assuming the 2009 Vikings are at full strength, we do know this: This team will run the ball with 2008 rushing leader Adrian Peterson and will stop the run, as the Minnesota defense has led the league in rushing defense for the past three seasons, thanks in large part to Pat and Kevin Williams.

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Also look for the Vikings to use Percy Harvin all over the field, much as the Florida Gators did. Fellow receiver Bernard Berrian and tight end Visanthe Shiancoe both have Pro Bowl potential. But it all comes down to Jackson, who is very athletic and has a strong arm but who isn't as accurate as Rosenfels.

Here is the Vikings' 2009 schedule, and we'll break it down after:
Sept. 13 at Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m.
Sept. 20 at Detroit Lions, 1 p.m.
Sept. 27 vs. San Francisco 49ers, 1 p.m.
Oct. 5 vs. Green Bay Packers, 8:20 p.m.
Oct. 11 at St. Louis Rams, 1 p.m.
Oct. 18 vs. Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m.
Oct. 25 at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m.
Nov. 1 at Green Bay Packers, 1 p.m.
Week 9: Bye
Nov. 15 vs. Detroit Lions, 1 p.m.
Nov. 22 vs. Seattle Seahawks, 1 p.m.
Nov. 29 vs. Chicago Bears, 1 p.m.
Dec. 6 at Arizona Cardinals, 4:15 p.m.
Dec. 13 vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m.
Dec. 20 at Carolina Panthers, 8:20 p.m.
Dec. 28 at Chicago Bears, 8:20 p.m.
Jan. 3 vs. New York Giants, 1 p.m.

Strength of schedule: 31st (opponents combined to go 107-148-1, .420, in 2008)
Projected record: 10-6
Bodog over/under total: TBD
Bodog odds to win NFC North: 8/5
Bodog odds to win NFC: 7/1
Bodog odds to win Super Bowl XLIV: 12/1

Minnesota opens with two road games (thanks to the Twins needing the Metrodome) for the first time since 1997. But don't feel too bad for the Vikes, as the Browns and Lions were a combined 4-28 last year. Minnesota hasn't won in Cleveland since 1983. The Vikes swept the Lions last year, but both were very close.

Overall, the Vikings' first eight games are the easiest in the NFL, with the team's opponents having a.375 winning percentage in 2008. The bye is nearly smack-dab in the middle of the season and comes at a great time, following trips to Pittsburgh and Green Bay, two potential losses. Then Minnesota gets four of the next five at home and should be favored in all four at the Metrodome. And don't rule out an upset of Arizona in the desert, as the Vikes romped there last year.

While Minnesota's overall schedule is second-easiest to only the Bears, the Vikings' closing three-game stretch is very difficult. It's Minnesota's only stretch this season with three games in a row against teams with a winning record in 2008. That game with the Bears on Dec. 28 could very well be for the NFC North title. Then Minnesota closes with the Giants for the second year in a row. Those two clubs have played 10 times in the past 11 seasons.

Ten wins should be enough for an NFC wild-card spot. However, another one-and-done in the playoffs could cost coach Brad Childress his job with all this talent on the roster.

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