New head coach Kevin O'Connell may be a fast-riser at the coaching level and comes from the Super Bowl-winning Sean McVay coaching tree in Los Angeles (as offensive coordinator), but he takes over a franchise that always seems to be snake-bitten and hasn't reached a Super Bowl since the 1970s. Mike Zimmer reached the playoffs three times in his eight seasons as Minnesota's coach, including an NFC Championship Game in 2017 by virtue of the "Minneapolis Miracle." The Vikings' offensive infrastructure is dynamic in 2022; Dalvin Cook is arguably among the top five running backs in the league, and third-year star Justin Jefferson is widely considered one of the two or three best wide receivers in football already. Defensively, Minnesota significantly upgraded their linebackers with the additions of Za'Darius Smith (Green Bay) and Jordan Hicks (Arizona). This is a team that might be ready to break out, assuming quarterback Kirk Cousins can once again play at a high level.

The opening part of Minnesota's schedule isn't too daunting assuming they can beat Green Bay at home in Week 1. If so, a 4-2 start at worst appears probable before their bye week. Outside of second-half trips to conference favorites Buffalo and Green Bay, the remainder of the team's toughest opponents visit U.S. Bank Stadium. Minnesota has five home games in a si- game stretch starting in Week 11; win all of those and an NFC North division title might be well within reach.

Considering the generosity of their schedule, there could be value on the Vikings going over nine wins, as well as at +105 to make the playoffs. With the strength of their roster and the potential of an exciting, innovative first-time head coach, it's possible there won't be seven better teams in the NFC. While the Vikings may not be worth the +2000 odds to win the NFC, a second-round playoff appearance might be a fine ceiling for O'Connell's first season in Minneapolis.

• More NFL futures: SportsLine Projection Model's best bets

Below, you'll find the Minnesota Vikings 2022 schedule, win total and more futures odds from Caesars Sportsbook, followed by picks from top SportsLine NFL analysts Larry Hartstein and R.J. White. You'll also find three bets favored by the SportsLine Projection Model.

Entering the 2022 NFL season, Larry is 427-344 all-time on NFL sides (plus $3,764 for $100 players), including 394-330 ATS. He went 68-50 ATS (58 percent) and 8-3 on moneyline plays last season for a profit of $1,552. Over the past seven years, R.J.'s SuperContest picks are 329-250-21 (56.8 percent) and he consistently crushes the NFL: He went 445-378-24 on ATS picks from 2017-21, returning $2,542 to $100 players as SportsLine's No. 1 NFL expert in against the spread picks.

Minnesota Vikings 2022 schedule

Week 1: vs. Green Bay
Week 2: at Philadelphia (MNF)
Week 3: vs. Detroit
Week 4: vs. New Orleans (in London)
Week 5: vs. Chicago
Week 6: at Miami
Week 7: BYE
Week 8: vs. Arizona
Week 9: at Washington
Week 10: at Buffalo
Week 11: vs. Dallas
Week 12: vs. New England (SNF)
Week 13: vs. New York Jets
Week 14: at Detroit
Week 15: vs. Indianapolis (SAT or SUN)
Week 16: vs. New York Giants (SAT)
Week 17: at Green Bay
Week 18: at Chicago

Minnesota Vikings 2022 futures odds

Win Total Over: 9.0 (-125)
Win Total Under: 9.0 (+105)

Make Playoffs: +105
Miss Playoffs: -125

Win Division: +240
Win Conference: +1400
Win Super Bowl: +3000

So will the Vikings go over or under their win total for the 2022 season? And what other futures bets are worth making? ... Join SportsLine right now to see Larry Hartstein and R.J. White's Minnesota Vikings 2022 futures picks, all from the acclaimed experts who have crushed the NFL for years!