Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, who have struggled as a favorite recently, are out to turn around that trend against the rival Minnesota Vikings in an exciting Sunday Night Football betting matchup this weekend.
In a matchup of NFC North rivals who are each off to 1-0 starts, the Packers are listed at two-point favorites against the host Vikings with a total of 43 points, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
The Packers are 11-3 straight-up in their last 14 games, but are only 3-7 against the spread in their last 10 games as favorites, according to the OddsShark NFL Database. The Vikings, who are opening their new U.S. Bank Stadium, are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games against teams with winning records.
Rodgers is a two-time NFL MVP, while Vikings coach Mike Zimmer has not announced whether Shaun Hill or recently acquired Sam Bradford will be his starting QB. The Packers, who are 10-2-1 SU in their last 13 games against the Vikings, will be looking to establish RB Eddie Lacy against a Vikings front seven that will not have DT Sharrif Floyd (knee).
Green Bay receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb will also not have to worry about CB Xavier Rhodes (knee), and rookie replacement Trae Waynes got picked on at times in the Week 1 Vikings win against Tennessee.
The Vikings are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games as a home underdog, but only 1-5 SU in their last six Week 2 contests. Veteran RB Adrian Peterson averaged only 56 rushing yards in two games vs. Green Bay last season.
While the quarterback question hangs over this matchup, second-year WR Stefon Diggs and counterpart Charles Johnson could be facing a depleted secondary since CB Sam Shields (concussion protocol) and Josh Hawkins (hamstring) are banged up for Green Bay. Tight end Kyle Rudolph is integral to Minnesota’s ball-control offense, but he has a tough matchup against Green Bay SS Morgan Burnett and FS Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.
The total has gone over in eight of the Packers’ last 11 games in Week 2. The total has gone under in seven of the Vikings’ last 10 home games. The total has also gone under in the last three Packers-Vikings games.
The OddsShark Computer is projecting an 18.8-14.5 Vikings victory on Sunday night, but Minnesota’s quarterback issues foster doubt about their chances against the Packers.
