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The Packers-Vikings line was settled in at -9 at Sportsbook.com for Week 7 of the 2011 regular season.
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: Green Bay -9 & 46.5
Opening Line & Total: Packers -9 & 47.5
The Packers put their 12-game win streak on the line when they visit Mall of America Field for a date with a reeling Vikings team fresh off a Sunday beat-down in Chicago.
Thanksgiving weekend a year ago was the last time the Packers lost a game
SU that Aaron Rodgers started and finished, and this Vikings team appears to be in no position to snap that streak. The Packers have won 11 of 13 ATS, which includes Rodgers and company coming into Minnesota a year ago and dominating the Vikes in a 31-3 slaughter. The Vikings are expected to start rookie QB Christian Ponder under center as they contemplate playing for the future.
During Green Bay’s dozen-game ride, Aaron Rodgers is averaging a hefty 313 passing YPG, with 31 TD and just 6 INT. He has also tossed 12 TD and just 3 INT in seven career meetings with the Vikings. The Packers rushing attack remains subpar though, ranked 24th in yards (99 YPG) and 27th in yards per carry (3.8 YPC). Top RB James Starks has a total of 157 rushing yards (3.2 YPC) in his past four games. The Green Bay defense also has some lopsided statistics, ranking 5th in rushing (84 YPG), but 2nd-worst in passing defense (300 YPG). The Packers have not lost the turnover battle in any of their six games this year, posting a +7 TO margin on the season.
About the only thing the Vikings have going for them in this game is that the underdog is 14-5 ATS (10-9 SU) in this series at Minnesota since 1992. Vikings star RB Adrian Peterson was limited to 39 yards on 12 carries in the 39-10 loss to Chicago last Sunday night, but he has usually found room to run against Green Bay. Peterson has amassed 807 rushing yards (4.9 YPC) and 5 TD in eight career meetings versus the Pack. The passing game certainly needs some kind of change, ranked 2nd-to-last in the NFL with 169 YPG. But Ponder’s numbers against Chicago (9-of-17, 99 yds, 5.8 YPA, 70.5 rating) were worse than McNabb’s stat line (19-of-24, 177 yds, 7.4 YPA, 97.4 rating). One player who can help either QB is Percy Harvin, who had a season-high 78 receiving yards in the loss to Chicago. Defensively, the Vikings have smothered opposing ball carriers, allowing a mere 84 rushing YPG (4th in NFL). But the passing defense ranks 24th in the league (270 YPG) and could be without two key members of the secondary. CB Antoine Winfield (neck) and S Jamarca Sanford (concussion) are both questionable for Sunday.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
