Lambeau Field may have a very somber tone in Week 16. The Green Bay Packers, who were supposed to take care of business in Carolina, were eliminated from playoff contention with a 31-24 loss in Week 15. Now, they’ll be looking for payback and some vengeance vs their hated rival, the Minnesota Vikings, who were mainly responsible for the Packers’ demise this season when quarterback Aaron Rodgers broke his clavicle from a hit in Week 6. The Vikings are 2-6 ATS in their last eight trips to Lambeau but opened as the favorite vs the Packers.
- The total has gone UNDER in 16 of the Vikings’ last 21 games vs NFC North teams.
- The Vikings are 8-1 ATS in their last nine games.
- The Packers are 6-0 ATS in their last six games at home in December.
The Vikings will still be pedal to the metal in this one as they’re chasing the Philadelphia Eagles for home-field advantage in the playoffs. Their game vs the Bengals in Week 15 was never in doubt as they smashed them 33-7 and smothered Cincinnati with their No. 2-ranked defense. While the Vikings should be a lock now in this one with Rodgers placed back on IR, their history at their rival’s field cannot be overlooked. The Vikes are 1-5-1 SU in their last seven games in Green Bay and have lost by an average of 19.2 points, including two losses of 30 points or more. But those losses were when Rodgers was in the lineup and make no mistake about it, Brett Hundley is NOT Aaron Rodgers.
The Packers, on the other hand, will want nothing more than to stick it to the Vikings. Rodgers will watch the remaining two games on the sidelines and gear up for next season. And it’s too bad because when Rodgers was under center, he diced the Vikings with 39 TDs, six INTs and a 111.7 QB rating in 19 games. But instead they’ll throw Hundley back out there and even if he plays better than before, it may not be enough to mask the shortcomings of the Packers defense. The Pack have been horrendous this season, allowing 116.4 yards per game on the ground (ranked 21st) and 255 yards through the air (ranked 24th). Taking the Packers is a difficult sell with No. 12 not in the lineup.
The total opened at 40.5 and taking the OVER may still be a solid bet in this matchup. Minnesota is still a top-10 offense this season and averages 24 points per game on the road. When Hundley was under center, the Packers averaged 25 points per game from weeks 13 to 15 and he should be much more familiar with Mike McCarthy’s offense now compared to when he was thrown into the fire vs the Vikings in Week 6.
Minnesota Vikings vs Green Bay Packers Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The Minnesota Vikings will look to cover ATS vs their hosts on Saturday, as they are 10-4 versus the spread this season, while the Green Bay Packers are 7-7 ATS. Minnesota is 7-7 against the OVER/UNDER total, while Green Bay is 10-4 versus the number. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Green Bay vs Minnesota injuries news.
The Packers sit at No. 23 in the current NFL Power Rankings here at OddsShark, while the Vikings are at No. 5 on that chart.
Statistical Matchup
Offensively, the game matches up the Green Bay Packers' No. 17-ranked offense (22.07 PPG) against a Minnesota Vikings defense that ranks No. 2 at 17.29 PPG. The Packers passing attack has averaged 206.29 yards per game, more than the Vikings give up through the air (198.64 YPG on average).
In comparing defenses, the Vikings own the league's No. 13-rated front 7 in terms of stopping the run, allowing 112 yards per game when on the road. Green Bay, on the other hand, rates No. 19 this week in generating rushing yards at home.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
Minnesota won its last game 34-7 over Cincinnati on Sunday, behind a 114-yard receiving performance from Jerick McKinnon at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Last time out, Aaron Rodgers threw for 3 scores and 290 yards in a failed effort to defeat Carolina at Bank of America Stadium.
- Minnesota is 8-1 ATS in its last 9 games
- Minnesota is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games
- Minnesota is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
- Minnesota is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games on the road
- Green Bay is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
- Green Bay is 15-8 SU in its last 23 games
- Green Bay is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games
- The total has gone OVER in 6 of Green Bay's last 7 games
Next Betting Matchups
Minnesota home to Chicago, Sunday, December 31
Green Bay at Detroit, Sunday, December 31
