Bill Huber· 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. He picks 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.
“Bill Huber: Vikings 34, Packers 31.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
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 bet.
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.
Where this call stands in the room
MarShawn Lloyd · 2026 season24 calls from 13 pundits between 1 and 2. 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.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
The game in this take
- Packers at Vikings 42 calls
11 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
- Score PredictionsMinnesota VikingsSep 13, 2026
Minnesota Vikings 34 — Packers 31
“Bill Huber: Vikings 34, Packers 31.”
Close · 67Scored 66.67a naive guess scored 58.25+16.83 skillHow 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
- Season Win TotalsGreen Bay PackersSep 13, 2026
Green Bay Packers to finish with 8 wins
“Packers Record (And When Season Will End) Bill: 8-9.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsTucker KraftGreen Bay PackersSep 13, 2026
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.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsMarShawn LloydGreen Bay PackersSep 13, 2026
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.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsMatthew GoldenGreen Bay PackersSep 13, 2026
Matthew Golden to be 1st on the depth chart
“Bill: Matthew Golden in receptions, Christian Watson in yards, Tucker Kraft in touchdowns.”
Not 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.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksMatthew StaffordLos Angeles RamsSep 13, 2026
Matthew Stafford to win NFL MVP
“Who Will Win NFL MVP (and Will Jordan Love Be in Race)? Bill: Matthew Stafford.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersChicago BearsSep 13, 2026
Chicago Bears to win the division
“NFC North Winner Bill: Bears.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Super Bowl PicksLos Angeles RamsSep 13, 2026
Los Angeles Rams to win the Super Bowl
“Super Bowl Winner Bill: Los Angeles Rams.”
Not 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.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Micah Parsons to record 8 sacks
“Even if Parsons misses the first six games, he should at least double that number.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Minnesota VikingsHit · 90Simms went through the entire Week 3 slate with straight-up winners and predicted final scores, taking Jacksonville, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle, the Giants, Baltimore, New Orleans, Minnesota, San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphia. He also expected Zay Flowers and Puka Nacua to sit, Kyler Murray to play, and said Marvin Harrison Jr. projects as no better than a good No. 2 or high-end No. 3 receiver.
- Chris LongGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles RamsMiss · 0Long liked the Rams over the Broncos on Sunday night even without Puka Nacua, and expected the Bills to beat the winless Chargers in Buffalo. He also backed the Bengals over the Steelers, expected an angry Detroit team to handle the Jets, and still thought both the Lions and Vikings could win the NFC North.
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Green Bay PackersMiss · 10Simms picked the Packers to beat the Falcons in the Thursday night game by a low score, expecting a defensive struggle.
- Sam MonsonGame Outcome Picks · Minnesota VikingsHit · 100Monson picked the Chargers to beat the Bills outright (jokingly crediting Buffalo's gray 'Nickel City' jerseys), took the Vikings to win outright in Tampa, and said Seattle would destroy Washington. He also reiterated his Super Bowl pick of Denver over the Rams, called the Dolphins destined for the No. 1 overall pick, and said the Saints are a worst-to-first candidate in the NFC South.
- Matt HarmonGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles RamsHit · 100Harmon picked the Bengals to beat the Texans in Week 2, expecting Nico Collins to miss the game with a hamstring injury, and also predicted the Titans would be shut out by the Eagles. He took the Rams over the Giants, the Bears over the Vikings, and the Jaguars at Denver.
- Nate TiceGame Outcome Picks · Chicago BearsMiss · 0Tice picked the Bengals over the Texans in a low-scoring game, the Jaguars at Denver, the Bears over the Vikings, the Patriots over the Steelers and the Rams to edge the Giants, and his Hail Mary was the Cowboys scoring 40 on Washington. He also floated Abdul Carter as a possible All-Pro.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Jonah ColemanMiss · 0In his Week 3 waiver column, Fitzmaurice makes several depth-chart calls around injuries: Jonah Coleman leading Denver's backfield, Marcus Mariota taking over in Washington, Michael Penix Jr. starting once healthy, and Malik Washington serving as Miami's top receiver, plus availability expectations for Detroit's injured safeties.
- Fox SportsDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Hit · 100Fox Sports states that a healthy Tua Tagovailoa will serve as Atlanta's backup quarterback in Week 3, with Michael Penix Jr. handling the starting duties against Green Bay.
- Matt SeveranceDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100The CBS Sports preview backs Tampa Bay to beat Cleveland in the Bucs' Week 2 home opener, and states that Deshaun Watson — not Shedeur Sanders — will be Cleveland's starting quarterback in Week 2.
- Rafael ZamoranoDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100Zamorano reports Watson will start Week 2 at Tampa Bay and suggests there's little reason to expect improvement, raising the possibility Watson's five-year contract never yields more than single-digit wins.
- Rich HribarDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0Hribar expects Tua Tagovailoa to be Atlanta's starting quarterback for Week 2 while Michael Penix stays out, with Penix's return closer to Week 4. He is unenthusiastic about the Falcons' offense either way and treats Bryce Young as a fringe fantasy starter.
- Tyler SullivanDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Miss · 0In a Week 1 recap with no named byline, CBS Sports suggested Michael Penix Jr. would take over as Atlanta's Week 2 starter if healthy, called Ashton Jeanty's sophomore breakout imminent, and warned readers not to overlook San Francisco as NFC West winners.