Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings Betting Odds, Analysis, NFL Pick

The Minnesota Vikings will be looking to halt a three-game straight-up home losing streak against the Green Bay Packers when they host their NFC North rivals in a Week 2 matchup marking the first-ever NFL contest at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Expectations have been tempered in Minnesota since the loss of quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to a season-ending knee injury, but the Vikings showed their resilience in a 25-16 victory over the Tennessee Titans as 2.5-point chalk in Week 1.

The Packers have dominated Minnesota, going 10-2-1 SU in their past 13 meetings. They dropped a 20-13 decision to the Vikings in Week 17 last season but have not lost two straight to their archrivals since 2009.

Point spread: The Packers opened as 2.5-point favorites; the total was 44 early in the week, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark (line updates and matchup report).

NFL pick, via Odds Shark computer: 21.0-13.8 Vikings (NFL picks on every game)

Why the Packers can cover the spread

Packers pivot Aaron Rodgers looked to be in midseason form in Week 1, throwing for a pair of touchdown passes and running for a third in a 27-23 win over an improved Jacksonville Jaguars squad. But it was the defense that ultimately preserved the victory, stopping the Jaguars on a last-minute drive deep into Green Bay territory.

The Packers were outgained last week for a third time in their past four games but face a Vikings squad that failed to score an offensive touchdown in Week 1. Green Bay has also averaged 32.66 points per game in its past six visits to Minnesota while going 5-1 SU.

Why the Vikings can cover the spread

The biggest question surrounding the Vikings is whether newly acquired quarterback Sam Bradford will get the start on Sunday. Bradford is an upgrade on Shaun Hill, who started in Week 1, particularly against a Packers squad that surrendered 300 passing yards against Jacksonville. The key will be how well Bradford adapts to a Vikings offense that puts the ground game first.

Minnesota was underestimated at the sportsbooks throughout 2015, going 14-3 against the spread, and has not surrendered more than 17 points in a home game since 2014, according to the Odds Shark NFL Database.

Smart pick

The Packers will be looking to avenge their 20-13 home loss to Minnesota in Week 17 that handed the NFC North crown to the Vikings last year. With its win in Jacksonville, Green Bay appears to have overcome some of the offensive issues that plagued it late in 2015, when it failed to score more than 20 points in three of its four final contests.

Minnesota's defense deserves all the credit for last week's win, twice reaching the end zone on turnovers, while 10 Vikings drives into Tennessee territory produced a mere four three-pointers and two missed field-goal attempts. Look for Green Bay to continue its dominance in Minnesota with a SU and ATS win.

Betting trends

The Packers are 10-2-1 SU in their last 13 games against the Vikings.

The Vikings are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games against teams with winning records.

The Packers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games as a favorite.

All NFL betting lines and point spreads data courtesy of Bleacher Report’s official odds partner, Odds Shark. All quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line movement updates and Odds Shark YouTube for picks and analysis, or download the free odds tracker app.