The Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings meet Sunday in NFL action at U.S. Bank Stadium. Here’s a Vikings vs Packers Prediction. This article will include a Vikings vs Packers Pick.
Green Bay Packers Betting Preview
The Packers have made the playoffs in 3 straight seasons and enter year 8 under coach Matt LaFleur. The Packers have made the playoffs in 6 of their last 7 seasons.
Jordan Love is coming off a career year and enters this season as probably a top-10 quarterback. The receiving group lost some depth, and running back Josh Jacobs is on the Commissioner’s exempt list, so he does have limited weapons at the moment. Tight ends Tucker Kraft and Jonnu Smith have to step up and take pressure off Christian Watson. Defensively, Devonte Wyatt and Javon Hargrave have to hold down the fort until Micah Parsons returns from his ACL injury. The secondary has questions, and rookie Brandon Cisse is likely going to be thrown into the fire early. The Packers have key players out for various reasons, but this is a well-coached team that has an accomplished quarterback. The Packers will hang around, but we don’t know their ceiling until they get healthy.
Minnesota Vikings Betting Preview
The Vikings won 9 games last season and enter year 5 under coach Kevin O’Connell. The Vikings have missed the playoffs in 8 of their last 13 seasons.
The Vikings have a new quarterback in Kyler Murray, and he has to feel fantastic going from Arizona to getting to throw to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson. The Vikings have an elite receiver room, and if Murray can’t make it work here, it’s probably over for him. Defensively, the Vikings will remain a disruptive unit under defensive coordinator Brian Flores, as these guys thrive on blitzing and creating turnovers. This is one of the most aggressive defenses in the league. There’s high upside with this Vikings team, as the skill position players are strong and the defense creates opportunities. The quarterback position will determine if this is a legit NFC threat.
Why the Minnesota Vikings will win
- The Vikings have won each of their last six games without Ivan Pace Jr.
- The Packers have lost each of their last five games without MarShawn Lloyd.
- The Packers have failed to cover the spread in each of their last six games without MarShawn Lloyd.
- The Vikings have covered the spread in six of their last seven games without Justin Jefferson.
- The Vikings have won the first quarter in each of their last five home games.
- The Vikings have won the first half in four of their last five home games against the Packers.
- The Vikings have scored the first touchdown in each of their last six Week 1 home games.
Why the Green Bay Packers will win
- The Packers have won eight of their last 10 games as underdogs without Jordan Love.
- The Vikings have lost three of their last four home openers as favorites.
- The Packers have covered the spread in nine of their last 10 games as underdogs without Jordan Love.
- The Vikings have failed to cover the spread in four of their last five games without Andrew Van Ginkel.
- The Packers have scored the first touchdown in six of their last seven games against NFC North opponents.
- The Vikings have lost the first quarter in four of their last five September games as home favorites.
- The Packers have won the first half in six of their last seven games against NFC North opponents.
Total Points Facts
- Eight of the Vikings’ last nine games have gone UNDER the total points line.
- Seven of the last eight games between teams from the same division have gone OVER the total points line.
- Each of the Packers’ last five road games without Jayden Reed have gone OVER the total points line.
Minnesota Vikings Player Prop Facts
- Aaron Jones has scored two or more touchdowns in each of his last three September appearances with his team as a home favorite against NFC North opponents.
- Aaron Jones has scored at least one touchdown in each of his six previous September appearances with his team as a favorite against NFC North opponents.
- Aaron Jones has recorded 35+ rushing yards in 17 of his 18 previous appearances with his team as a home favorite against NFC North opponents.
- Aaron Jones has recorded 67+ rushing and receiving yards in each of his six previous appearances with the Vikings as favorites against NFC North opponents.
- Kyler Murray has recorded 22+ completions in six of his last seven home appearances.
- Jauan Jennings has recorded 23+ receiving yards in each of his last 13 appearances.
- Kyler Murray has recorded 270+ passing yards in three of his four previous appearances with his team as a home favorite against NFC North opponents.
- Will Reichard ranked T1st in the NFL in 50+ yard field goals made (11) last season.
Green Bay Packers Player Prop Facts
- Jordan Love has recorded 21+ completions in six of his last seven Sunday regular season appearances with the Packers as underdogs.
- Tucker Kraft has recorded 53+ receiving yards in four of his last five regular season road appearances.
- Josh Jacobs has scored at least one touchdown in 14 of his last 16 Sunday appearances.
- Tyrod Taylor has recorded 21+ rushing yards in five of his last six appearances with his team as an underdog against NFC opponents.
- Tyrod Taylor has recorded 172+ passing yards in five of his last six appearances as a starter.
- Jonnu Smith has recorded 27+ rushing and receiving yards in eight of his last nine road appearances against division opponents.
- Daniel Whelan ranked 1st amongst qualified players for gross average yards per punt (51.7) last season.
Matchup/League Facts
- Vikings – two different players recorded 80+ rushing yards in a game last season – equal-most in the NFL.
- Vikings – five different players recorded 2.0 sacks or more in a game last season – equal-most in the NFL.
- Packers – seven different players recorded multi-touchdown games last season – most in the NFL.
- Packers – two different players recorded 80+ rushing yards in a game last season – equal-most in the NFL.
Vikings vs Packers Prediction
The home team has won 7 of the last 10 games between the Vikings and Packers. The Packers lost receiver depth from a year ago and now won’t have their starting running back. Not ideal when going up against this aggressive Vikings defense that takes no prisoners. Also, I’m not confident in the Packers’ secondary, and they have to defend one of the top receiving groups in the league. We’re not being asked to lay anything crazy. At home, I’ll side with the Vikings and the short line.