The Green Bay Packers will be trying to solidify their position atop the NFC North standings on Sunday when they visit the Arizona Cardinals as four-point betting underdogs at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
The Packers improved their straight-up record to 10-4 last weekend with their third straight victory, a hard-fought 30-20 win over the Oakland Raiders as four-point road favourites that earned them a berth in the post-season for a seventh straight year.
While Green Bay can clinch a fifth straight divisional crown with wins in their final two contests they have struggled in recent weeks, winning just four of their last eight straight up (SU) and generating over 350 total yards of offence just twice in their past five games ahead of Sunday’s Packers vs. Cardinals betting matchup at University of Phoenix Stadium.
The Cardinals return home riding high following their eighth straight SU win, a 40-17 demolition of the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night. That win clinched the NFC West for Arizona, who can lock up a first-round bye with a win over Green Bay on Sunday.
While the Cardinals have dominated on the gridiron they have struggled at the sportsbooks, going 2-3 against the spread (ATS) in their past five overall and failing to cover in each of their last four home dates, according to the OddsShark NFL Database.
Arizona has also struggled in recent meetings with Green Bay, picking up SU wins in just two of nine meetings since moving to the desert in 1988, but are 2-1 SU and ATS in their last three at home against the Packers.
The Minnesota Vikings will try to stay within a game of the Packers in the NFC North when they host the New York Giants on Sunday night as six-point chalk. The Vikings exploded to a 7-2 SU start but have struggled since, losing three of five SU while averaging just 19.6 points per game.
A win over the fading Giants clinches a playoff spot, but Minnesota can also capture top spot in the NFC North division standings with a victory this week and in their meeting with the Packers next week.
However, the Vikings are winless SU and ATS in their last two games against the Giants, scoring just 10 total points in those two contests.
In other NFL Week 16 betting action, the Seattle Seahawks will vie for a sixth straight win when they host the St. Louis Rams as 14-point chalk, while the Carolina Panthers will look to improve to a perfect 15-0 when they visit the Atlanta Falcons as seven-point favourites.
