Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers: Line Packers -3
The Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers line opened at Packers -3 as the home favorite in what can easily be the most widely anticipated NFL game of the entire 2009 regular season. Gambling911.com will be presented extensive betting coverage of this game throughout the week.
All the books, including Sports Interaction, opened at Green Bay -3 with the Over/Under either 47 or 47 ½ depending on the book.
Very early betting action had nearly 75 percent of the money going Minnesota's way on the +3 spread.
Coming off back-to-back victories over two of the NFL's worst teams, the Green Bay Packers are carrying more confidence into Sunday's rematch with Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings.
"Our confidence is high, and it well should be," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "We're growing as a football team. We're coming forward with the targets we're trying to hit. From a preparation standpoint, it's looking the way you want it to look."
The Packers did sustain two significant injuries in Sunday's game, likely forcing them to make a quick roster move.
McCarthy said Brett Swain, a fifth-string receiver and special teams standout, will have season-ending knee surgery after an injury Sunday. Wideout Jordy Nelson will miss at least two more weeks with a knee sprain, leaving the Packers with only three healthy wideouts as of Monday: Greg Jennings, Donald Driver and James Jones.
McCarthy said the team will look to add a receiver this week, potentially bringing up Jake Allen from the practice squad.
"We feel like we're building each week, getting better, growing," McCarthy said. "Guys are stepping up with their opportunities. I think Spencer Havner is an excellent example of that yesterday. We feel very, very good about ourselves as a football team."
Everyone will be anxious to see the type of reception Brett Favre receives in Green Bay and how he plays there against his old team.
"It's going to be a love-hate relationship," said Darrell Thompson, the University of Minnesota football radio analyst, of Favre's return to Lambeau Field. "I think the people there care tremendously about Brett and what he's done for the Packers, the success he had, the Super Bowls - winning one and losing one. That's a big deal."
His jersey will ultimately be retired in Green bay.
"So it will be fun. They're rooting against him a little bit now, but when he retires, if it's one year or three years or five years, he's going to end up being beloved by those fans, and probably Viking fans."
Minnesota is 6-1 Straight Up in its last 7 games on the road.
Minnesota is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Green Bay.
Minnesota is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing Green Bay.
Minnesota is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Green Bay.
Minnesota is 4-12 SU in its last 16 games when playing on the road against Green Bay.
The Packers beat Minnesota by a margin of 5 and 34 points, respectively, the last two times they hosted the Vikings.
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Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com
