Packers vs. Vikings line, odds, predictions: Our experts pick Green Bay to beat Minnesota

December 31, 2023

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A Week 17 victory is critical for the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers if either hopes to make the playoffs. The Vikings are slight favorites ahead of the NFC North matchup.

Kickoff is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. NBC will broadcast the game.

The Packers (7-8) reached their nadir this season when a 24-10 Week 8 loss to Minnesota dropped them to 2-5. Jordan Love’s improved play is one reason Green Bay could sneak into the playoffs after that disastrous start. Green Bay has a 27.7 percent chance to make the playoffs.

The quarterback had 11 touchdowns through the first seven games, but he also had eight interceptions. Since then, he has a 16-to-3 TD-to-interception ratio. Love spreads the wealth among Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, Jayden Reed, and Christian Watson, but Watson, Reed, and Wicks have all been listed as questionable on the injury report the week leading up to the game.

The Packers suspended cornerback Jaire Alexander for this game for conduct detrimental to the team. Despite not being a team captain, he participated in the coin toss in Sunday’s victory against the Panthers.

Minnesota (7-8) saw its playoff odds slip to 23.4 percent following a 30-24 loss to the Lions in Week 16. Quarterback Nick Mullens posted huge passing stats – 411 yards and touchdown passes to Justin Jefferson and K.J. Osborne – but he also threw four interceptions and took four sacks as Detroit clinched its first NFC North title. Now the Vikings have benched Mullens.

Rookie Jaren Hall will start at quarterback. It will be his second start, but he suffered a concussion early against Atlanta and didn’t finish the game.

The Vikings have a top-10 scoring defense, but they could be short-handed on that side of the ball when facing longtime rivals. D.J. Wonnum is out for the season after tearing his quadriceps against the Lions. The linebacker is one of Minnesota’s leading tacklers and recorded eight sacks (No. 2 on the team) before the injury. Cornerback Byron Murphy (57 tackles and team-leading three interceptions) didn’t play against Detroit and was listed as questionable in the lead up to the Green Bay game.

Both the Vikings and Packers could be short-handed when they square off, but only one team will have even a glimmer of a chance of reaching the playoffs after this game.

All odds from BetMGM. Looking for NFL tickets? Buy them here.