NFL Playoff Picks: Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers

Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers
Saturday, 1/5/12, 8:00 PM EST, TV: NBC
Opening Point Spread: Green Bay -8
Current Betting Line: Green Bay -8
Opening Total: 45.5
Current Total: 45.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

Packers Steelers Super Bowl XLV Picks — Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers has put up incredible numbers against NFC North opponents in his career

Minnesota won its last four games of the regular season to reach the NFL playoffs, which included a 37-34 victory over Green Bay as three-point home underdogs last week, while going OVER the posted total of 45.5. “We’re very confident,” stated Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. “I feel like we’re peaking at the right time.” He has averaged 106.2 rushing yards in six games at Lambeau Field, but the team is 0-3 when he eclipses the 100-yard mark at the historic venue. It’s still important to note that teams with a 100-yard rusher are a combined 157-37 in playoff games during the Super Bowl era. Minnesota is 7-3 ATS as an underdog this year, with the UNDER going 6-4 in those contests.

The Vikings are obviously dangerous underdogs when looking over the pro football odds page, with Peterson running for an incredible 861 yards in the month of December. Minnesota will have to create pressure on the defensive side of the ball, as Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers was sacked a career-most and NFL-worst 51 times this year. The team’s own signal-caller will need to continue his strong play, as Christian Ponder compiled a 95.5 passer rating over his final three games.

Green Bay has gone 4-1 against divisional foes in the postseason since 1967, while it holds a 54-49-1 all-time advantage against Saturday’s foe, which can’t be ignored when making your NFL picks against the spread. The Packers have won 26 of their last 28 home games, which is the best mark in the league since Week 10 of the 2009 campaign. Rodgers has played a major part in the team’s success since taking over for veteran Brett Favre a few years back—passing for 61 touchdowns and throwing just 15 interceptions against NFC North opponents. Green Bay is 3-1 ATS when revenging a road loss versus an opponent the last two-plus seasons.

The Packers have been known to force turnovers at home, as they’ve generated a plus-45 turnover differential since 2009 in that situation. Green Bay has generated at least two takeaways in 23 of 32 home games since 2009, which has led directly to a 22-1 record. In 10 career starts versus the Vikings, Rodgers has a combined 116.4 passer rating, with 24 touchdowns and four interceptions.