Vikings vs. Packers Odds & Picks
| Pick |
|---|
| Packers -12 |
| Justin Jefferson Under 75.5 Receiving Yards |
Packers -12
Raheem Palmer: While this felt like the ideal spot to take the Vikings, given their conservative style of play and tendency to run the ball, at some point you'll have to be able to keep up with Aaron Rodgers and this Packers offense. And without Kirk Cousins and Adam Thielen, the Vikings are facing an uphill battle.
I was able to take advantage of a stale -6.5 line in the DraftKings pick'em contest, but I sitll like the Packers up to -13.5 (shop for the best real-time line here).
Justin Jefferson Under 75.5 Receiving Yards
Michael Arinze: According to Football Outsiders, the Minnesota Vikings still have a 19.2% chance to make the playoffs. Minnesota is currently eighth in the NFC — one game behind the Philadelphia Eagles, who occupy the seventh and final seed. However, an Eagles victory against the Washington Football Team could all but seal Minnesota's fate.
By the time the Vikings take the field against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night, they'll already know the result of the Philadelphia-Washington game, which kicks off earlier in the day. Washington would need to win as a six-point underdog to give Minnesota even a glimmer of hope.
The problem for the Vikings is they'll be without their starting quarterback Kirk Cousins. That means it'll be Sean Mannion who'll be making his third career start at quarterback. Mannion's previous starts resulted in losses during those season's final week as his teams had already clenched their playoff berths. It's also worth noting that neither of those opponents finished the season above .500.
Mannion didn't exactly cover himself in glory, given his Total QBR of 14.9 and 26.4 in both games. As a result, I fully expect him to struggle today.
However, the Vikings can still have a chance to win the game with a heavy run-focused game plan. One thing you can do against the Packers is run the ball on them. Green Bay ranks 31st defensively in run DVOA, allowing 4.8 yards per carry. That should bode well for the Vikings running back, Dalvin Cook, as he averages 4.7 yards per carry this season.
Based on how I expect this game to play out, I feel it makes sense to target some props focusing on fading the Vikings. If the Vikings prioritize the running game in their attack, I don't think it'll be too productive for their wide receivers like Justin Jefferson. PointsBet is offering Jefferson's receiving yard prop at 75.5. I believe the under is worth a look in this spot. I would play it down to 73.5.
