SPORTS ADVISORS
Green Bay (2-1 SU and ATS) at Minnesota (3-0, 2-1 ATS)
Brett Favre makes his much-anticipated first-ever start against his former team when the Packers visit the Metrodome for a matchup against the Vikings.
After 15 seasons with Green Bay, Favre “retired” following the 2007 playoffs only to play the 2008 season with the Jets and “retire” again before signing with Minnesota in August. Now he faces the Packers, the team with whom he earned three consecutive league MVP awards and led to a Super Bowl title in the mid-1990s.
Green Bay has won five of the last six matchups in this rivalry, but Minnesota scored a 28-27 victory last November at home, falling short as a 2½-point favorite. The Packers have gotten the cash in four straight series clashes and five of six in Minnesota. Also, the underdog is 16-5 ATS over the past 10-plus seasons, and the road team has covered 11 of the last 14 meetings.
Favre’s successor, Aaron Rodgers has the Packers at 2-1 after last week’s 36-17 road win in St. Louis, cashing as a 6½-point road favorite. Rodgers passed for 269 yards and two TDs against the Rams while RB Ryan Grant contributed 99 rushing yards. Rodgers has thrown for 714 yards with four touchdown passes and no interceptions this season.
Favre has the Vikings shooting for their first 4-0 start since 2003 after his amazing 32-yard, game-winning touchdown pass with two seconds left to beat the Niners 27-24 last Sunday in his home opener. However, after cashing in the first two games on the road, Minnesota came up short as a seven-point favorite versus San Frnacisco. Favre has thrown for 566 yards with five TDs and one INT as a Viking.
Green Bay is on several positive ATS runs, including 15-5-1 on the road, 3-1-1 in October, 5-1 as an underdog, 7-1 against NFC North foes and 4-1 against teams with winning records.
Minnesota comes into this as a betting risk, currently on ATS slides of 0-4 at home, 0-4 in Week 4 games, 1-4 against the NFC, 1-4 in October, 2-6 against division rivals and 3-11 after a SU win.
Under the Monday night spotlight, Green Bay is 26-27-1 SU (29-24-1 ATS), while the Vikings are 24-24 SU (23-24-1 ATS) all time.
The Packers are on a plethora of “over” runs, including 20-7-1 overall, 10-3-1 on the road, 20-6-1 against NFC squads, 7-3 against division rivals and 5-2-1 as a road ‘dog. Conversely, the Vikings are on “under” streaks of 4-1 against the NFC, 8-3 on Monday and 28-13-1 after a SU win. In this rivalry, the “over” has been the play in 12 of 18 meetings overall and seven of nine in Minnesota.
Finally, the four of the first five Monday Night Football games this season have topped the total.
ATS ADVANTAGE: GREEN BAY and OVER
DUNKEL
Green Bay at Minnesota
The Vikings look to build on their 7-3 record in their last 10 games as a favorite between 3 and 9 1/2 points. Minnesota is the pick (-3) according to Dunkel, which has the Vikings favored by 8 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (-3)
Game 227-228: Green Bay at Minnesota
Dunkel Ratings: Green Bay 129.623; Minnesota 138.316
Dunkel Line: Minnesota by 8 1/2; 44
Vegas Line: Minnesota by 3; 47
Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (-3); Under
NHL
NY Rangers at New Jersey
The Rangers look to build on their 14-5 record in the last 19 meeting between the two teams. New York is the pick (+125) according to Dunkel, which has the Rangers favored by 1/2 a goal. Dunkel Pick: NY Rangers (+125)
Game 51-52: NY Rangers at New Jersey
Dunkel Ratings: NY Rangers 11.695; New Jersey 11.553
Dunkel Line & Total: NY Rangers by 1/2; 4 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: New Jersey (-135); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: NY Rangers (+125); Under
Game 53-54: Columbus at Vancouver
Dunkel Ratings: Columbus 10.676; Vancouver 11.541
Dunkel Line & Total: Vancouver by 1; 6 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Vancouver (-165); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Vancouver (-165); Over
Jordan Haimowitz
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Vancouver Canucks
Play: Columbus Blue Jackets +140
CLB are 5-11 in the last 16 meetings in Vancouver.
VAN are 4-10 in their last 14 Mon. games.
The Blue Jackets are one of the most talented young teams in the NHL. You have Rick Nash who is one of the top 10 players in hockey to go along with Raffi Torres, Derrick Brassard, Nikita Filatov and Jakub Voracek. The young talent is as good as any. Young goalie, last years ROY, Steve Mason is back for his 2nd season in the NHL and looks sensational.
The Canuks are in for a down season. Roberto Luongo has not got much help from his defense. A depleted roster it is. The talent is not there to match the speed and youth of Columbus.
EZWINNERS
Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings
Play: Over 45.5
I'm expecting a shootout in this game. The Vikings have an excellent run defense that is going to force the Packers to throw the ball which I expect them to do with great success. The Vikings will take advantage of a questionable Green Bay defense with Adrian Peterson on the ground and Brett Favre through the air. Fasten your seat belts and play on the over!
Tom Freese
New York Rangers at New Jersey Devils
Prediction: Under
The Rangers are 7-1 UNDER when playing with one day of rest and they are 34-14-5 UNDER on Monday. New York is 7-3 UNDER when playing their third game in four nights and they are 5-1 UNDER after scoring 5 goals or more in their last game. New Jersey is 17-7-2 UNDER after allowing 5 or more goals in their last game and they are 9-3 UNDER vs. an opponent that scored 5 or more goals in their last game. The Devils are 17-6-5 UNDER on Monday and they are 7-3-2 UNDER vs. Eastern Conference teams. PLAY ON 'UNDER'
Karl Garrett
Green Bay at Minnesota
Sunday comp play winner on the NY Giants.
Only game in town on Monday is this Green Bay-Minnesota showdown featuring Brett Favre against his former team.
We all know the back-story, and there is one thing I can tell you about this game, and that is, it is going to go OVER the total.
Let's start with the fact that 8 of the last 9 times these teams have played in the Twin Cities, they have gone OVER the posted price.
Let's continue with the fact that both teams have played HIGH in 2 of their 3 games thus far this season.
The Packers are still figuring out their new 3-4 defensive scheme, and chances the Vikes burn them a few times seem good to me.
Likewise, the Vikings defense has not been as stout as it was last season.
This game has OVER written all over it.
5♦ OVER
Dominic Fazzini
Green Bay at MINNESOTA
My complimentary selection on the Chargers for Sunday night's game turned into a big bust, but picking the total in tonight's game should be an easy winner!
Both the Packers and the Vikings have offenses that can light up the scoreboard. Green Bay does most of its damage through the air, while Minnesota has one of the NFL's most dangerous weapons in running back Adrian Peterson.
That doesn't mean these offenses are one-dimensional, though. Both teams can find numerous ways to move the ball down the field.
The over has been the way to go in 12 of the last 18 times these teams have met, especially when they play in Minnesota, as the number has went over the total in seven of the past nine games. The points are going to pile up again tonight. Take the over.
4♦ GREEN BAY-MINNESOTA OVER
Jeff Benton
Green Bay at MINNESOTA
For Monday’s free play, I’ll take the Packers-Vikings game OVER the posted total.
I actually expect this game to be fairly low-scoring at the start, because with emotions running high for both teams, the two coaches are going to way to stay conservative early on to guard against costly mistakes. Eventually, though, the offenses will take control of this game because there are too many weapons on both sides of the ball – Brett Favre, Adrian Peterson, Bernard Berrian and Percy Harvin for the Vikings; Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Grant, Donald Driver and Greg Jennings for Green Bay.
Both teams are 2-1 to the “over” to start this year, with the Packers scoring 21, 24 and 36 points (increasing every week) and the Vikings tallying 34, 27 and 27 points. Take a look at the history of this series in recent years, too: The over is 12-5-1 in the last 18 meetings overall and 7-1-1 in the last nine in the Metrodome.
Finally, the Packers as a team come into this game on “over” runs of 20-7-1 overall, 10-3-1 on the road, 10-3-1 in NFC games, 7-3 against divisional rivals and 4-0 when playing on artificial turf. Similarly, Minnesota hast topped the total at a 9-4-1 clip when laying between 3½ and 10 points at home and 33-16-3 a week after a non-cover. Throw in the fact that three of the first four Monday Night Football games have ended on the high side, and we’ll look for a track meet in the second half that pushes this one well over the total and at least into the 50s.
2♦ GREEN BAY-MINNESOTA OVER
LT Profits
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks have opened the season 0-2 with both losses on the road, and although this is their home opener, we still feel that they will have their hands full with the 1-0 Columbus Blue Jackets.
Quite frankly, the Canucks have not looked sharp in their first two games. The normally reliable Roberto Luongo let in eight goals in the two contests with an abnormally low .857 save percentage, and the offense has not been able to finish plays. They have managed a good 77 shots in two games, but have lit the lamp just three times. Is this return home what the need to regain their form? Well, we would rather not lay -160 to find out.
The Blue Jackets opened with a nice 2-1 home win over the Minnesota Wild, as goaltender Steve Mason picked up where he left off after a spectacular year last season, stopping 32 of 33 shots (.970). The young Jackets are looking to build on the first playoff appearance in club history last year by now beginning a season 2-0 for the first time ever. They should have confidence vs. the Canucks here, as they were 3-1 head-to-head last year including one win here in Vancouver.
Given the start these teams have had and the fact that Columbus has been one of the few visiting teams to have some success in this building, going 3-2 in the last five visits, we will give the Blue Jackets the upset call here.
Pick: Blue Jackets +140
Matty Baiungo
Packers +3½ over Vikings
This game will be discussed ad nauseum all week because it's Brent Favre facing the Packers for the first time since he was traded. So let's just get this little Favre snippet out of the way first. When Packers general manager Ted Thompson wouldn't grant Favre his release and instead traded Favre, he was adamant about not trading Favre within the division. So when Thompson made the deal with the Jets, he included a "poison pill" provision that would have forced the Jets to give up three firstround draft choices if they traded Favre to any other NFC North team. After his release from the Jets, Favre was free and signed with the Vikings two weeks into camp. Now the Packers have to deal with the "poison pill" coming back to haunt them. And we're sure Favre will use this to fuel his fire even more. But we like what Packers head coach Mike McCarthy told reporters when asked about Favre and the "poison pill": "Keep it about the football game." Green Bay's defense was dreadful a season ago, and as a result, five coaches were fired. Dom Capers is now the new defensive coordinator and his 3-4 scheme has made a difference so far. After three games, the Packers are allowing less than 4 yards per rush compared to last year's 4.67 yards per rush average. They will get the acid test this week facing Adrian Peterson who gashed them for 192 and 103 yards in the two meetings a season ago. We'll learn if Capers' improvement is for real, or if it's just a result of the opponents they've faced. Coming into the season, Green Bay's offense was the least of their worries. But after three games, the offense hasn't been good at all. A lot of that has to do with their shuffled offensive line, but Chad Clifton is expected back this week which will get things going. And with this game being played a day later on Monday night, it makes Clifton's return more likely according to fellow lineman Daryn Colledge: "This is an important game to him and an important game to our season. I think he knows that and I would expect Chad to be back." Minnesota's offense looks like the real deal thus far. They finally have complimentary pieces to go with Adrian Peterson, and rookie Percy Harvin has proven to be a game changer with a touchdown in all three games. But there's something to be aware of. In all three of their games, the Vikings were trailing at the half. They've needed to make comebacks, and they've exploded in the second half out-scoring their opponents by a 58-20 margin. They can't expect to do that every week, especially here against a Packers defense that is tied for the league lead with 9 takeaways. Plus Green Bay's offense has way too many weapons to keep down, and we expect to see significant improvement from them here. Under Mike McCarthy, the Packers are a solid 12-6 against the spread as a road underdog. His Packers are also perfect at Minnesota going 3-0 to the number with 2 wins and a 1- point loss. This divisional game is close throughout with the dog winning it late.
Packers by 3
Mike Anthony
Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings
Play: Over 45.5
Both the Packers and the Vikings have offenses that can light up the scoreboard. Green Bay does most of its damage through the air, while Minnesota has one of the NFL's most dangerous weapons in running back Adrian Peterson. GB will stack the line to stop the run and this will lead to more passing plays. The over has been the way to go in 12 of the last 18 times these teams have met, especially when they play in Minnesota, as the number has went over the total in seven of the past nine games in the dome.