Sunday Night Football Picks: Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings

Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings
Sunday, 10/27/13, 8:40 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Green Bay -7.5
Current Betting Line: Green Bay -8
Opening Total: 50
Current Total: 47.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

Vikings Bills NFL Preview — The Minnesota Vikings are 8-6 ATS as underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points since 2011

Green Bay has won three games in a row, including a 31-13 victory over the Cleveland Browns Sunday, while going UNDER the betting total in each of those contests. The Packers are 20-6 (.769) all-time in Sunday Night contests—a winning percentage that ranks No. 1 in league history. Through 105 meetings, which includes two postseason games, the Packers hold a 55-49-1 advantage over the Vikings in the all-time series. Green Bay is 12-8 SU and 8-11-1 ATS on the road over the last two-plus seasons, with the OVER going 11-9 in that situation.

The Packers should expect a hard-fought game from the Vikings despite their poor record, as 16 of the last 21 regular-season meetings between the clubs have been decided by seven points or less. Since head coach Mike McCarthy took over in 2006, Green Bay has swept the season series four out of seven years, while compiling a 10-4 record. The team has won 13 of its last 14 regular-season games against NFC North opponents.

Minnesota has dropped back-to-back games, including a 23-7 setback to the New York Giants on Monday Night Football, while going UNDER the betting total for the first time in six contests during the 2013 NFL campaign. Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is the key player to watch in this matchup, as he rushed for 508 yards in three total games against the Packers a season ago. Wide receiver Greg Jennings ranks in the top 10 in Green Bay’s history in receptions and receiving yards, as he prepares to take on his former team for the first time. Minnesota is 4-11 SU and 8-6 ATS as underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points since 2011.

The Vikings are only one of two teams in the league that have scored on a kickoff return and a punt return in 2013, with Cordarrelle Patterson being one of the best special teams players in football. He leads the NFL with an average of 36.5 yards per kickoff return—something to consider when looking over the pro football odds page. The franchise is 12-8 in the last 20 games played in this rivalry inside the Metrodome.