This past NFL betting weekend, the best sportsbooks online and players alike were anxious to witness the return of Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers went down with a broken collarbone earlier this season and many of the top sportsbook sites on the web were expecting No. 12 to ride back on a white steed and lead this team to the playoffs. That didn’t turn out to be the case as the two-time MVP ended up throwing 3 touchdowns to 3 interceptions. It’s hard to overcome that performance and a late-minute fumble from a wideout sealed the deal for the Packers.
Now, facing the end of the season, Green Bay is preparing for the possibility that they might miss the postseason for the first time in 9 seasons. That kind of news can certainly ruin your week. However, Rodgers and Co. will have an opportunity to extract revenge on the team that knocked Rodgers out this weekend as the Packers host the Vikings this upcoming Saturday. What kind of sportsbook bets can be made on this NFC North rivalry?
Betting Minnesota
The Vikings enter this matchup sporting an 11-3 record that the franchise was only able to achieve due to taking Rodgers out this season. Minnesota mounted a 9-game win streak following their win over the Rodgers-less Packers. It was impressive, but it was ultimately snapped by the Panthers a few weeks back. Nevertheless, Minnesota was able to clinch the NFC North this past weekend with a dominant 34-7 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Now, the Vikings will shift their focus on home field advantage throughout the postseason. The Vikings are the NFC’s No. 2 seed, so they’ll need the Eagles to suffer some key losses before the season concludes. Oh, and Minnesota will need to overcome a ticked off Aaron Rodgers this Saturday as well.
The Vikings have a clear advantage over the Packers. Minnesota has the better offense since they’re averaging 24.5 points per game to the 22.1 Green Bay is putting up. To add on, the Vikings also have the better defensive unit. The Vikings are giving up a slim 17.3 per weekend while the Packers allot 23.8 themselves. With those numbers in mind, the best sportsbooks online player might be tempted to take the Vikings on the road.
Betting Green Bay
The Packers enter this weekend’s matchup flashing a disappointing 7-7 record. Green Bay had hopes of upsetting the Panthers this past weekend. Unfortunately, Rodgers was not playing as his usual self and ultimately it was clear that the time off crippled the quarterback’s accuracy and timing. Additionally, the pass protection was awful, especially towards the end of the game. In fact, there were some instances when Rodgers had less than 2.5 seconds to get rid of the ball. Given how elite the Panthers’ secondary is, it’s no surprise to see that they finished the day with 3 picks. Even if the Packers were to win this Sunday, there’s no guarantee their making the playoffs.
Players betting on this matchup might want to consider betting on the spread. Sure, taking Rodgers to get his revenge seems lucrative. However, No. 12 played extremely poor this past weekend and he might be off his game once again this Saturday. On the other hand, the Vikings have a stellar 10-4 record against the spread this season.
Best Sportsbook Online Betting Lines & Odds:
Minnesota Vikings -9 (-105) 40½ (-110)
Green Bay Packers +9 (-115) 40½ (-110)
