Green Bay Packers vs Minnesota Vikings Point Spread Picks

Combine the Vikings (-480) and the Broncos (-1125) into a 2-team parlay at -317 odds.

The combination of J.J. McCarthy’s growing pains and the Packers not fully clicking on offense has resulted in a total so low it is more reminiscent of a preseason game than a Week 12 matchup. This is not a high bar to clear to go OVER. Minnesota is eighth in yards per carry (4.7) with two good running backs, Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason. Green Bay has given up an average of 138.7 yards rushing during its past three games. The Packers are likely to be missing their leading tackler, injured Quay Walker. The Vikings’ offensive line gets a massive boost with the expected return of center Ryan Kelly. He had missed the past six games. Jordan Love is learning to adjust to being without star tight end Tucker Kraft. Christian Watson has stepped up since coming off the injured list, catching two touchdown passes against the Giants last week. It is a plus if Josh Jacobs can play after suffering a minor knee injury against the Giants. Jacobs’ 11 TD runs are the most in the NFC. If Jacobs is unable to play, Love is likely to pass more. That would not be bad for the OVER either. Take the OVER.

Minnesota escaped with another win as it pulled off a 27-24 victory at Seattle on Sunday, but the Vikings now face their toughest test since losing to Detroit in Week 7. The Vikings have won eight straight, but only one of those opponents, Atlanta, has a reasonable shot of making the playoffs. Green Bay is seeking revenge for a 31-29 loss in the first meeting when Jordan Love threw for 389 yards and four TDs but was victimized by three interceptions. The Packers have won nine of 11 and are on a 5-0 ATS run. They are 5-2 UNDER their past seven games, and they got the NFL's first shutout of the season, defeating New Orleans 34-0 on Monday night. Minnesota is 6-2 UNDER at home, and the Packers have gone UNDER seven of 10 on the road against the Vikings, who are 1-6 ATS in their past seven Week 17 games. Green Bay has won 17 of its past 20 December games outright, and they are No. 6 in the league, allowing only 19.1 points per game this season. Take the Packers and the UNDER.

Minnesota has lost four of five and is decimated by injuries, even more so than most teams and the Vikings are 0-2-2 ATS their past four games. The Vikings gave it their all, but lost their last chance to win the division as they were defeated 30-24 by Detroit on Sunday. Fourth-string quarterback Nick Mullens threw for 411 yards, but was picked off four times, including the game-sealing interception by Ifeatu Melifonwu at the 5-yard line with 49 seconds left. Green Bay survived another week by downing Carolina 33-30 as Jordan Love threw two TDs, ran for one and made two big completions to set up a 32-yard field goal by Anders Carlson with 19 seconds to win the game. Love threw for 219 yards with no interceptions and the Packers had 162 yards rushing. The Vikings are 2-8 ATS their past 10 home games and 0-4-2 ATS overall their past six December games. Minnesota is 5-0 UNDER as a favorite of 0.5-3.0 points and 5-2 UNDER overall its past seven home games. Green Bay has stayed UNDER five of seven following an ATS loss and the Vikings are 8-0 UNDER versus teams with losing records. Green Bay has a little momentum, but the Vikings appear to be tapped out. Take the Packers and the UNDER.