Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings Odds, Prediction, & Pick
Packers vs. Vikings Odds
| Packers Odds | -0.5 |
| Vikings Odds | +0.5 |
| Over/Under | 42 |
| Date | Sun, Dec. 31 |
| Time | 8:20 p.m. |
| TV | NBC |
Week 17 of the NFL regular season will conclude with a matchup between the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC. Entering play, both the Packers and Vikings are in need of a victory to keep themselves alive in the hunt for an NFC Wild Card position.
Ahead of kickoff in this matchup, oddsmakers have priced the Packers as 0.5-point favorites on the spread. The total for this contest is set at over/under 42 points.
Let’s take a deeper look at the matchup to see where NFL bettors can find value at sportsbooks in this contest.
Green Bay Packers
What to expect from Jordan Love
Since Week 11, Jordan Love has been one of the most productive quarterbacks in the entire NFL, ranking 3rd in passer rating, 2nd in EPA/play, and 5th in success rate among qualified signal callers. His growth has propelled the Packers offense to the 3rd-best EPA/play and 4th-best success rate of any team in the league during that stretch – with a 4-2 record to show for their efforts.
Even without wide receiver Christian Watson on the field the last three weeks, Green Bay ranks 4th in EPA/play and 5th in success rate offensively. This group has enough talent to give them a high floor on any given week, regardless of the opponent.
Packers injury report cause for concern
The larger concern for the Packers in Week 17 is the presence of a number of notable defensive players on the team’s injury report.
Linebacker De’Vondre Campbell is doubtful with a neck injury and appears likely to miss his second consecutive game. Last week, Green Bay allowed 96 rushing yards to Carolina without Campbell on the field.
Linebacker Quay Walker and safeties Jonathan Owens and Darnell Savage are each listed as questionable ahead of kickoff after practicing in a limited capacity on Friday. Walker and Savage are two of the team’s better run defenders, making this unit vulnerable on the ground if they are unable to suit up in this matchup.
Minnesota Vikings
Jaren Hall to get start for Vikings
Jaren Hall, a 5th-round draft pick out of BYU, is slated to make his first career NFL start on Sunday Night Football against the Packers. In college, Hall was a dynamic playmaker, combining for a 51-to-11 touchdown-to-interception ratio across the last two seasons while adding 653 rushing yards with his legs.
Coming out of BYU, scouts praised his ability to read the entire field and his mobility, but lamented his inconsistency throwing the football while questioning whether or not he would be able to perform adequately under pressure in the NFL. Per PFF, only 173 of his 734 dropbacks during his last two years in college came under pressure.
Overall, there are major red flags when looking at Hall, who is not dissimilar from Zach Wilson – another BYU quarterback who struggled to make the transition to the NFL.
Vikings defense slipping late in 2023
Though the Vikings defense had been one of the best in the league for a majority of the season, they have fallen off slightly of late, ranking 11th in DVOA since Week 13. The unit could be in even worse shape in Week 17, with cornerback Mekhi Blackmon listed as questionable and cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. having already been ruled out. Facing a Green Bay passing attack that has been firing on all cylinders, Minnesota’s injury report is worth checking 90 minutes prior to kickoff to see if their secondary unit will be down two key players.
Packers vs. Vikings – Picks & Predictions
It feels grimy to trust the Packers in this matchup considering their recent struggles against the Giants, Buccaneers, and Panthers – but they have the better quarterback in this contest and offense reigns supreme in the modern NFL. Minnesota is starting their 4th-string signal caller on Sunday, who has a total of 10 career pass attempts at the professional level. The Packers should be able to win a high-scoring affair if they can get good protection from their offensive line tonight, making them the side worth attacking here.
PICK: Packers Moneyline (-105, Fanatics Sportsbook)
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