Minnesota (11-3) at Green Bay (7-7)
When: Saturday, December 23rd 2017
Where: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI
Time: 8:30 ET | TV: NBC
Opening Odds: Minnesota -9/42
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The Green Bay Packers may be out of this year’s postseason, but they will have a chance to do some damage to one of their division rivals when they host the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday night at Lambeau Field. The Vikings have clinched the NFC North, but are still hoping to at least get a first round bye and possibly homefield advantage through the playoffs – including the Super Bowl – which is being played at US Bank Stadium in February. The Vikings improved their chances to beat Green Bay when the Packers were knocked out of the playoff chase and quarterback Aaron Rodgers was placed on injured reserve. Rodgers, who returned from a broken collarbone in last week’s 31-24 at Carolina, went on injured reserve Tuesday – one day after the Packers were eliminated from the playoff chase for the first time since 2008. The Vikings would clinch a first round bye with a win Saturday, coupled with a Carolina loss or tie.
Quarterback Case Keenum had sub-par performance against Green Bay in Week 6 (78.7 passer rating), but he has posted a passer rating above 100 in five of the last six games, including a 138.4 mark last week when he completed 20-of-23 passes and two touchdowns. Wide receiver Adam Thielen, who was one of four Vikings named to the Pro Bowl on Tuesday, had nine catches in the first meeting this season and a career-high 202 yards with 12 catches and two TDs last December at Lambeau Field. The backfield tandem of Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon continues to take pressure off of Keenum, with each going over 100 yards from scrimmage last weekend in a 34-7 over Cincinnati. The Vikings lead the NFC in both points (17.3) and total yards (283.9) yards, and are allowing just 85.3 yards on the ground (second best).
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After Rodgers had his collarbone broken in the first meeting against the Vikings, Brett Hundley stepped in and threw three interceptions while being sacked four times in a 23-10 loss. Hundley improved after that, going 3-4 as a starter and throwing six touchdowns versus one interception in his last three games. Hundley could be missing a key weapon in wide receiver Davante Adams, who is in the concussion protocol after taking an illegal hit to the head in last weekend’s loss in Carolina. Fellow wideout Jordy Nelson had only 22 catches in Hundley’s seven starts, but Randall Cobb has come alive with 15 receptions and a TD over the past two games. The Packers are allowing an average of 23.8 points and have held only one team (Chicago, twice) under 20 points since Week 1.
This is the type of game that nobody is giving a chance to Green Bay. I love these games. It will be a cold Saturday night in Lambeau and the Packers will be giving everything they have to knock-off their rival from the north. Hundley is playing well enough to keep this one close.
Pick: Packers +9
- Vikings are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Vikings are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games after allowing less than 150 yards passing in their previous game.
- Vikings are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. NFC.
- Vikings are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games.
- Vikings are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games after allowing less than 250 total yards in their previous game.
- Vikings are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game.
- Vikings are 23-8 ATS in their last 31 games following a straight up win.
- Vikings are 19-7 ATS in their last 26 games in December.
- Vikings are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Vikings are 41-16 ATS in their last 57 games overall.
- Vikings are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 Saturday games.
- Vikings are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games in Week 16.
- Vikings are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up win of more than 14 points.
- Vikings are 37-18 ATS in their last 55 games following a ATS win.
- Vikings are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games on grass.
- Packers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 Saturday games.
- Packers are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games in Week 16.
- Packers are 10-3 ATS in their last 13 games in December.
- Packers are 39-18 ATS in their last 57 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Packers are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game.
- Packers are 1-5 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Packers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Over is 4-0 in Vikings last 4 games in Week 16.
- Over is 4-1 in Vikings last 5 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Over is 4-1 in Vikings last 5 road games.
- Under is 16-5 in Vikings last 21 vs. NFC North.
- Over is 5-2 in Vikings last 7 games following a straight up win.
- Over is 5-2 in Vikings last 7 games following a ATS win.
- Over is 5-2 in Vikings last 7 games after allowing less than 250 total yards in their previous game.
- Under is 11-5 in Vikings last 16 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Under is 34-16 in Vikings last 50 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game.
- Over is 6-0 in Packers last 6 games in December.
- Over is 4-0 in Packers last 4 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Over is 4-0 in Packers last 4 games following a straight up loss.
- Over is 4-0 in Packers last 4 games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Over is 6-1 in Packers last 7 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Over is 6-1 in Packers last 7 vs. NFC North.
- Over is 6-1 in Packers last 7 games following a ATS loss.
- Over is 8-2 in Packers last 10 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 21-6 in Packers last 27 games overall.
- Over is 16-5 in Packers last 21 games on grass.
- Over is 16-5 in Packers last 21 vs. NFC.
- Over is 15-5 in Packers last 20 games in Week 16.
- Over is 7-3 in Packers last 10 home games.
- Over is 35-16-1 in Packers last 52 games after allowing more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.
- Underdog is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings.
- Home team is 10-4 ATS in their last 14 meetings.
- Over is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings in Green Bay.
- Vikings are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 meetings in Green Bay.
