Packers vs. Vikings Prediction, Odds & Picks for Sept. 13: Minnesota Covers
On Sunday night in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, the Minnesota Vikings open their season with a big NFC North rivalry game, hosting the Green Bay Packers. In this Packers vs. Vikings prediction, we lay out the latest odds, key game info, and our picks for this season-opening division clash.
The Packers were flying high last season at 9-3-1 but lost their last four games before dropping the Wild Card playoff game to the Chicago Bears. They split two games against the Vikings, winning at home and losing on the road.
Minnesota also had nine wins last season but missed the playoffs. However, they won their last five contests of the season.
FanDuel Sportsbook has the Vikings as slight favorites at -1.5 with the total sitting at 46.5.
Packers have a Lot of Question Marks Entering the Season
While the Packers have a talented team and a solid QB in Jordan Love, they have many early-season question marks.
Green Bay has a new-look offensive line with three new starters, and some key players are battling injuries or returning from them. The unit got very little work together in the preseason because of that, and that could present a huge problem, as Minnesota’s Brian Flores is a blitz-happy defensive coordinator who will send pressure at Love early and often.
Love was solid last season, passing for 3,381 yards with 21 TDs and six picks, and has a good WR corps with the likes of Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and Matthew Golden, and TE Tucker Kraft. However, the Packers lost leading WR Romeo Doubs.
Will Love have time in the pocket with all the pressure coming at him, and can he get some help from the run game? Last season’s leading rusher, Josh Jacobs, is out for this game due to legal issues; he will not serve jail time but will likely receive an NFL suspension.
RB Marshawn Lloyd gets his first career start and has only played in one game in two seasons due to injuries, and Chris Brooks is the lead kick returner and only had 106 rushing yards last season.
The Green Bay defense ranked 12th last season in yards allowed and will be without star Micah Parsons, who is recovering from injury and will be missed.
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For the second year in a row, the Vikings will have a new starting QB for Week 1. Newcomer Kyler Murray, who beat out J.J. McCarthy in the preseason to be the starter, and Minnesota has to be kicking themselves, still letting Sam Darnold walk, winning 14 games for them two seasons back and then winning the Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks last season.
Murray has some weapons, with one of the top WRs in the league, Justin Jefferson, and a good RB duo of Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones Sr., who combined for 1,296 rushing yards last season.
Not having Parsons in the lineup is a concern for a Packers’ pass rush that has to pressure Murray. However, Murray can use his legs to move the chains and avoid pressure to get the ball downfield. The play of speedy LB Edgerrin Cooper will be key, as he will be tasked with keeping Murray from making plays outside the pocket, a tall task now that the QB is healthy.
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Packers vs. Vikings Prediction
Vikings to cover: (-1.5, FanDuel)
The Vikings won nine games last season despite poor quarterback play, and Murray has a great chance for a fresh start. He is healthy and will play well; I'm looking for him and Jefferson to have big games.
The Packers have talent but are also banged up and without their top running back and star defensive player. I look for a close game here, but with Murray rejuvenated and the many issues Green Bay has. The Vikings will win the opener and cover the spread.
Under 46.5 points: (-112, FanDuel)
When these two teams met last season, the total went Under in two very low-scoring games. This game will not be very low-scoring, but it will not be a shootout either. Both teams have solid defenses, and while this game will not be a defensive battle, neither team is expected to light up the scoreboard, which is why the Under is the pick.
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