The Packers invade the Bay Area on Sunday night after their win over the Lions while the 49ers are gunning for their third consecutive victory of the season. Let’s analyze this matchup and keep cashing our NFL picks!
Green Bay Packers vs. San Francisco 49ers
Sunday, September 26, 2021 – 8:20 PM ET at Levi’s Stadium
Green Bay was installed as 3 ½ point favorites in their opening week game against New Orleans. The season debut was played in the Saints’ temporary home of Jacksonville, Florida while their hurricane-ravaged home in New Orleans was being rebuilt.
But the neutral site venue did the Packers no favors as they were pounded, 35-3, by the new-look, Jameis Winston led Saints. Aaron Rodgers appeared as though he was still sulking from his offseason spat with Packers’ management as he passed for only 133 yards and two interceptions. It was an afternoon the entire team would rather forget as they packed up and headed home to welcome the lowly Lions to Lambeau.
After getting off to a lethargic start, the Packers trailed, 17-14, entering the second half but then they turned on the jets…finally. Aaron Rodgers atoned for his Week 1 sins with one rushing and four passing touchdowns, contributing to all of the Packers scoring in their 35-17 victory over Detroit. It should also be noted that the Green Bay defense shut out the Lions in the second half.
Maybe it was the home-cookin’ or a cold, hard look in the mirror, but whatever it was, the Packers won their ninth consecutive season home opener.
“I think that there’s, even more now than when I started playing, there’s so many overreactions that happen on a week-to-week basis,” Rodgers said. “So, it’s nice to come out and have a good performance and get the trolls off our back for at least a week.”
49ers Tame Eagles
San Francisco held a 38-10 third-quarter lead over the Lions in their season debut, and those who decided to lay the 7 ½, 8, or 9 points, depending on what day and where you placed your chalky wager, were already counting their money. But a not-so-funny thing happened to those punters as the Lions roared back, but ultimately fell, 41-33.
Therefore, if you were late to the party and laid 8 ½ or 9 points then it wasn’t just a bad beat, it was a hellacious curb-stomping. Those who bet the Niners earlier in the week and caught what proved to be a prized -7 ½ got paid even if they had to sweat it at the end.
But last week the 49ers’ defense looked much more alert as they stifled the Eagles’ offense, en route to a 17-11 victory, and cashed as three-point road pups. But on the flip side, the 49ers’ own offense didn’t look nearly as lethal with Jimmy Garoppolo completing 22-of-30 passes for only 189 yards and one touchdown. San Francisco’s rushing attack accounted for 117 yards while the offensive line kept Garoppolo’s uniform clean, allowing no sacks.
Wanna Make a Bet?
The NFL odds, a few days before kickoff, are showing the 49ers as 3 ½ point home favorites. It’s an interesting line but it makes sense considering these teams could easily be considered of the same caliber based on the early returns. If it’s a pick’em at a neutral site then we give the obligatory three-point handicap to the home team which would make the 49ers -3 when it was all said and done.
However, the line is 3 ½ points, sure it’s only a half-point removed from -3 but it is a huge half point. Getting an elite quarterback, like Aaron Rodgers, with a 3 ½ point head start is unusual, to say the least. The 49ers could also have two of their starting cornerbacks out of action which is good news for a gunslinger like A-Rod.
This is a golden opportunity to back a live road dog, one that just happens to have had made it to the NFC Conference championship game last year after finishing with a 13-3 regular-season record. Grab the points and back the Pack.
NFL Pick: Packers +3 ½ (-114) at Unibet
