The surprising Minnesota Vikings will be trying to take a two-game lead atop the NFC North standings when they entertain the rival Green Bay Packers in a Week 11 betting matchup pegged as a pick’em at the sportsbooks.
Minnesota rides a five-game straight up winning streak into Sunday afternoon’s Packers vs. Vikings matchup at TCF Bank Stadium, following a decisive 30-14 road victory over the Oakland Raiders last weekend, also picking up their eighth straight against the spread win as 3-point betting underdogs.
Combined with the Packers’ stunning 18-16 loss to the Detroit Lions, Minnesota’s win gave them sole possession of first place in the NFC North standings and puts them within striking distance of their first divisional crown since winning 12 games in 2009.
Despite the Vikings’ strong play, which has lifted them to the league lead in defense, holding opponents to just 17.1 points per game, they have yet to gain the full confidence of oddsmakers, who have made them betting favorites just three times in their last six, and favored by no more than three points in any game this season.
That trend continues against the struggling Packers, who travel to Minnesota riding a three-game SU losing streak that has bounced them from top spot in the division for the first time since last season.
Green Bay has averaged just over 18 points per game during their current funk, scoring just one total rushing touchdown, and have now lost three in a row with quarterback Aaron Rodgers at the helm for the first time since 2008 when they finished with a 6-10 record.
The Packers’ odds to win the NFC championship, though, remain among the favorites at 9/2, while Minnesota has vaulted to 5/1 on those futures. However, the Vikings face a massive task to reverse their losing trend in recent meetings with Green Bay, posting just one SU win in their last 11 matchups.
In other NFL Week 11 betting action, the 6-3 Atlanta Falcons will try to keep pace with the Packers in the hunt for an NFC Wild Card berth when they play host to the Indianapolis Colts as 6-point favorites. The Falcons have lost three of four, but face a hobbled Colts squad that has lost three of their last four as well.
The Carolina Panthers look to move to 10-0 when they battle the Washington Redskins as 7.5-point favorites, while the Lions will try to make it two in a row when they host the suddenly struggling Oakland Raiders as 1.5-point underdogs.