The Green Bay Packers (11-3) can wrap up the NFC North with a win over the Minnesota Vikings (10-4) on Monday night. Green Bay beat Minnesota earlier this season and has a better division record to have a leg up in the race for the division title, but the Vikings are playing at home where they are 6-0 thus far in 2019.
Both teams have already clinched a spot in the postseason, yet we all know how important home field is in the postseason so Green Bay and Minnesota are both feeling the pressure tonight.
Here's everything to know about betting on Vikings vs. Packers in Week 16, including updated odds, trends and our expert's prediction for "Monday Night Football."
MORE: Get the latest NFL odds & betting trends at Sports Insider
Packers vs. Vikings odds for 'Monday Night Football'
- Minnesota Vikings -5 vs. Green Bay Packers, O/U 47
This line has remained steady all week after an initial move in favor of the Vikings. The NFL betting odds initially listed Minnesota as a four-point favorite over Green Bay in this game, but that line quickly rose to Vikings -5 early in the week. There has been a similar move with the total as the original over/under in this game was 45.5 before rising to 47.
Packers vs. Vikings all-time series
Although Green Bay has more history than its NFC North rival, the Packers don’t have much of a historical edge against the Vikings in this series. Green Bay is 61-54-3 against Minnesota, and these teams have played some memorable games on Monday night.
In 1998, Randy Moss announced his presence to the world with five catches for 190 yards and two touchdowns in a blowout win for the Vikings, but the Packers got revenge two years later when Antonio Freeman made a ludicrous reception off a ball that was thought to be incomplete to beat Green Bay in overtime. The most anticipated game in this series happened 10 years ago though, as Brett Favre and Minnesota hosted Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay in the most highly rated game in cable television history.
Three trends to know
— The Packers are 6-1 ATS against teams with winning records in 2019.
— The under is 7-0 in Green Bay’s last seven games against division opponents.
— Minnesota is 36-15-1 ATS at home since 2013.
Three things to watch
Mike Boone has a chance to be a fantasy hero
Minnesota’s top two running backs are banged up headed into MNF, so the unheralded Mike Boone could become a fantasy football legend with a strong performance. With Dalvin Cook ruled out already due to a chest injury and Alexander Mattison very questionable due to an ankle issue, Boone is set to be the workhorse back for the Vikings tonight. Boone carried the ball 13 times for 56 yards and two touchdowns last week against the Chargers, and Green Bay is allowing 4.6 YPC and 120.9 YPG on the ground.
Will Kirk Cousins bounce back?
Kirk Cousins had his worst performance of the season on the road against Green Bay in Week 2. Cousins completed less than 50 percent of his passes and threw multiple interceptions for the only time all year in a 21-16 loss to the Packers. That performance was an outlier considering what he has done against the Packers over the course of his career, and Minnesota is hoping to see its franchise quarterback rebound.
Aaron Jones could become Green Bay’s second 1,000-yard back this decade
Green Bay has generally had a tough time running the football since Aaron Rodgers took over for Brett Favre more than a decade ago, but Aaron Jones is having a fine year in 2019. Jones has run for 830 yards and 14 touchdowns while averaging 4.4 YPC to become the complementary piece that Packers’ fans have wanted since Eddie Lacy left. He has generally been boom or bust though with monster performances against Minnesota, Dallas, Kansas City, Carolina, and Washington, and mediocre numbers in his other nine games.
Player to watch
Aaron Rodgers is not posting the numbers you’d expect on an 11-3 Packers team. Rodgers has thrown for more than 250 yards four times all season, and he hasn’t topped that number since October 27 against Kansas City. He averaged just 6.1 YPA against Minnesota earlier this year, throwing for 209 yards and two touchdowns in a Green Bay win.
Packers vs. Vikings prediction
Minnesota has been lights out at home this season. Although Cook and Mattison are hurt, Cousins will exploit an overrated Green Bay defense with Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen, leading the Vikings to their 11th win of the year.
Vikings 30, Packers 17