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The Minnesota Vikings be facing a familiar foe this Monday night in the Green Bay Packers. While the Vikings look to take the top spot in the NFC North, the Packers will attempt to hold them off as the Aaron Rodgers era officially get underway at 8:00pm ET on ESPN's Monday Night Football. NFL Week 1 predictions at BetUS.com have the Packers and Rodgers as a -2 home favorite against the Vikings. In front of a nationally televised Monday Night Football crowd, the Green Bay Packers come into the 2008 season with a lot to prove, especially for a team that reached the NFC Championship game last year. Many pundits feel that the loss of Brett Favre will hurt the team greatly and possibly end their hopes for another deep run in the playoffs. However, the Packers are still a young team and their defense should continue to improve. There is still a good deal of talent on the offensive side of the ball too. Regardless of whether or not Rodgers equals Favre numbers from 2007, he has enough of a supporting cast that he won't have to carry this team on his own. The Vikings have been one of the most hyped teams in the league this off-season. They finished just 8-8 in 2007 but they added a superstar defensive end (Jared Allen) to a unit that allowed just 19.4 points per game last year. The Vikings also held teams to just 74 yards rushing per game while they in turn averaged an astounding 165 yards per game on the ground. However, for Minnesota to realize their lofty expectations, quarterback Tavaris Jackson must continue to evolve into a legitimate NFL passer. Key Matchup: The Packers offensive line must holdup to what is certain to be an aggressive Minnesota pass rush. The Vikings are going to do everything they can to get in Rodgers head and disrupt his rhythm. It will be critical for the offensive line to protect Rodgers as he will have a good deal of pressure on his shoulders. NFL Week 1 Trend: The Under is 5-1 in Minnesota's last six as a road dog in a September game. BetUS.com's NFL Week 1 Predictions for the Vikings vs Packers: Vikings +2 (-110), Over 37.5 (-110), +110 (Money line) Packers -2 (-110), Under 37.5 (-110), -130 (Money line) Get on board for an entire season of NFL Picks; we are prepped and ready to storm through the 2008 NFL schedule. Also, make sure you check out our live NFL Betting Odds feed which provides real time point spreads from the top internet sportsbooks in the world, all in one easy to use location. Get line moves in real time and find out which NFL teams have the best betting odds.
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