Bill Huber#59 of 87 NFL pundits · Sep 13, 2026
Huber picks the Vikings to beat the Packers 34-31 in the season opener, forecasts Matthew Golden to lead Green Bay in catches, Christian Watson to top 1,000 receiving yards, Tucker Kraft to lead in touchdowns and MarShawn Lloyd to lead the team in rushing, with Micah Parsons reaching at least eight sacks. They pick Matthew Stafford for MVP, the Bears to win the NFC North, the Rams to win the Super Bowl, and the Packers to go 8-9.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Bill Huber said
Bill Huber: Vikings 34, Packers 31.
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- Will Packers Beat Vikings? Green Bay’s Final Record? Here Are Our Predictions
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidSep 13
- PlayedSep 13
- GradedSep 15
Box score, by kind
HitCloseMissWaiting| Group | Hits | Close | Misses | Waiting | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Score Predictions | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Player Season Numbers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| Depth Chart Calls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| Award Picks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Super Bowl Picks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Division Winners | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Season Win Totals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| All | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
Game calls show that game’s closing betting line under their grade: a dated fact from nflverse, for context and never part of a grade. MissedTakes takes no bets and earns nothing from any sportsbook.
How each call scored
11 checkable claims — 4 depth chart calls, 2 player season numbers, 1 award pick, 1 division winner, 1 score prediction, 1 season win total and 1 super bowl pick — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 10 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 11 have settled so far, averaging 66.7 out of 100, against 58.3 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 7 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
Where this call stands in the room
MarShawn Lloyd · 2026 season18 calls from 11 pundits between 1 and 1. Bill Huber said 1. the room's median is 1. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
Score Predictions1 close callShow ▸Hide ▾
- Vikings 39–22called Vikings by 3 · won by 1766.67Close
66.67 − 58.25 naive = 8.42 × 2 difficulty = +16.83 skill
Closing line (Sep 13): Vikings by 1.5, total 46.5 · this 34–31 calls a bigger Vikings win (by 3) and more points (65).
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- score:
- 22-39
- skill:
- 16.83
- they picked:
- MIN
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 66.67
- baseline:
- 58.25
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- actual margin:
- 17
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- naive home margin:
- −0.53
- predicted margin:
- 3
Player Season Numbers2 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Micah Parsons to record 8 sacks
“Even if Parsons misses the first six games, he should at least double that number.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Christian Watson to record 1,000 receiving yards
“If he stays healthy and keeps averaging 17 yards per catch, Watson should be the team's first 1,000-yard receiver since Davante Adams.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Depth Chart Calls4 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Tucker Kraft to be 1st on the depth chart
“And someone's got to score all those touchdown that had been going to Josh Jacobs; big Tucker Kraft seems like the logical beneficiary.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Matthew Golden to be 1st on the depth chart
“Bill: Matthew Golden in receptions, Christian Watson in yards, Tucker Kraft in touchdowns.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Christian Watson to be 1st on the depth chart
“Bill: Matthew Golden in receptions, Christian Watson in yards, Tucker Kraft in touchdowns.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
MarShawn Lloyd to be 1st on the depth chart
“Bill: MarShawn Lloyd. This is a tough one. It's tempting to go with Josh Jacobs. ... But I'll go with Lloyd.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Award Picks1 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Matthew Stafford to win NFL MVP
“Who Will Win NFL MVP (and Will Jordan Love Be in Race)? Bill: Matthew Stafford.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Super Bowl Picks1 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Division Winners1 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Season Win Totals1 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Green Bay Packers to finish with 8 wins
“Packers Record (And When Season Will End) Bill: 8-9.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
The game in this take
every pundit’s pick on eachWho this take is about
Others on the same people
Logan Lazarczyk · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Ahead of the trade deadline, they float three Raiders moves: shipping Kirk Cousins to Minnesota if the Vikings offer a second-round pick, selling Maxx Crosby to Dallas for a first-rounder plus, and acquiring Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. for a second- or third-round pick.Charean Williams · Roster Spot Calls · Odell Beckham Jr. · Miss 0
Williams writes that after releasing Odell Beckham Jr. to open a roster spot for Kirk Cousins, the Vikings will bring them back on the practice squad.John Middlekauff · Draft Bust Calls · Caleb Williams · Miss 0
Middlekauff expects either Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson to win this year's MVP, calling them the two best players in the league. They are pessimistic on the Bears, forecasting six or seven wins and saying they'd bet Caleb Williams doesn't work out as a franchise quarterback. They also see Oklahoma's John Mattier as a first-round pick who'll be in the Heisman mix.Justin Penik · Trade and Signing Calls · Aaron Jones · Hit 100
Pennock predicted Sam Darnold to Pittsburgh, Zach Baun re-signing in Philadelphia, Charvarius Ward and Jamien Sherwood to Washington, Cam Robinson to Chicago as left tackle, Cam Bynum to the Jets, Darius Slayton to the Chargers, Aaron Jones back to Minnesota and Aaron Rodgers to the Giants.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Michael Moore · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
In a Week 9 injury roundup, Moore forecast which banged-up fantasy contributors would play or sit: Deshaun Watson, Garrett Wilson, David Montgomery, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrance Ferguson are expected out, while Travis Kelce, Saquon Barkley, Michael Wilson, Christian Watson and Emeka Egbuka should play. They also expect Shedeur Sanders and Drew Lock to start at quarterback.Nic Bodiford · Depth Chart Calls · Joe Fagnano · Hit 100
Previewing Week 9 running game matchups, Bodiford expects Jacksonville to win lopsidedly over a depleted Baltimore team, with Bhayshul Tuten sitting out and Chris Rodriguez taking over as lead back, while Joe Fagnano starts at quarterback for the Ravens. They also view Broncos rookie Jonah Coleman as an RB2 going forward.