NFL Odds on Minnesota vs. Green Bay Speaks to Competitive Rivalry
October 24, 2010
One of the biggest rivalries in sports pre-Brett Favre in purple was Minnesota vs. Green Bay. The two teams, along with the Chicago Bears, continually fought each other for supremacy in the NFC North. It’s no wonder, then, that the NFL odds on the game between the two teams this Sunday night speaks to how competitive the rivalry is.
Favre played for Green Bay. The Vikings started guys like Daunte Culpepper and Randall Cunningham. Then, suddenly, Favre showed up to Lambeau Field in purple. Now, these two teams hate each other even more.
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The first game between these two teams this season is on Sunday night. The NFL expert odds makers have made the Packers a -2 ½ point favorite over the Minnesota Vikings. A lot is at stakes because the winner of this game will be only 1 game behind Chicago for the NFC North lead.
Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers
Where: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
When: Oct. 24th, 2010 at 8:20 pm EST
TV: NBC
Radio: Sirius – 125 (MIN), 126 (GB)
NFL Betting Lines
Minnesota Vikings +2 ½ -110 O 44 -110
Green Bay Packers -2 ½ -110 U 44 -110
The trends say that either team could be the NFL odds Sunday prediction to cover in this game.
- The Minnesota Vikings are 5 and 1 ATS in their last 6 games versus the NFC.
- The Minnesota Vikings are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 versus the NFC North.
- The Green Bay Packers are 5-1-1 ATS versus a team with a losing record.
- The Green Bay Packers are 2 and 8 ATS in the last 10 meetings between these two teams in Green Bay.
The NFL odds online for this game speak to how evenly matched these two teams are. In reality, though, the teams aren’t nearly as evenly matched as some might believe.
Green Bay isn’t as good of a team as Minnesota. The Vikings’ biggest issue is the lack of discipline from QB Brett Favre. Favre takes too many chances and those chances lead to interceptions or busted plays. He’s the single reason why the Vikings are 2 and 3 on the season. Yes, it is all Brett’s fault. The man’s QB rating is an insanely stupid 72.1. Favre has already thrown 7 picks this season as opposed to only 6 touchdowns.
If the Vikings concentrated on using Percy Harvin in space, like this did last week in the Dallas game, and hand the ball off to Adrian Peterson about 30 times on Sunday night, then they should beat the Green Bay Packers easily. Of course, I doubt that happens. More than likely, what will happen is that Favre will heave the ball downfield way too many times, throw 2 to 3 picks, and the Vikings will lose the game.
Why do I believe that will happen? Because Green Bay’s special weapon, LB Clay Matthews, should be healthy and ready to go after sitting out last week’s game versus the Miami Dolphins. Matthews has 8 ½ sacks on the season. He’s an absolute monster that could stuff Peterson in the middle and get to Favre in passing situations.
He’s the key for the Packers in this game. If Matthews doesn’t perform at a high level then expect the Vikings to win this game easily…unless, of course, Brett Favre decides to take control.
The Vikings’ D is better than many believe. It won’t shut down Green Bay’s terrific offense but it will slow it down. Green Bay has been decimated with injuries and the fact that they are even 2 ½ point NFL odds against the spread favorites in this game surprises me.
But I have to believe that Green Bay is better than what they’ve showed in their past two games, overtime losses to Washington and Miami. Minnesota beat Green Bay twice last season but the Packers are desperate and Favre is playing like he just learned how to pick up a football.
I have to go with the home team ATS in this game. Green Bay is my NFL odds prediction to cover the spread on Sunday night.
NFL Betting Pick: Green Bay Packers -2 ½ -110
Week 7 NFL odds are up in the sportsbook!
Sources: espn.com, covers.com, tsn.com, nfl.com
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