Packers Panthers Odds

Written by Jack Jones

The Green Bay Packers take on the Carolina Panthers Sunday in a game that features two of the most popular quarterbacks in the league. Aaron Rodgers is coming off a year in which he was named Super Bowl MVP, and Cam Newton was taken No. 1 overall in the 2011 NFL draft this past April. Which starter will shine brightest Sunday?

According to the Week 2 NFL odds, the Packers are listed as a 10-point road favorite with a total set of 46.5 points.

Green Bay

Aaron Rodgers was named NFC offensive player of the week after a 42-34 victory over the New Orleans Saints last Thursday. Rodgers threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns, completing 27 of 35 passes in the process. Green Bay got out to a 14-0 lead early, but had to hang on for the victory. New Orleans cut the lead to eight with a touchdown pass from Drew Brees to Jimmy Graham with just over two minutes left. They then forced a three and out, and marched all the way down to Green Bay’s 1-yard line. Mark Ingram was stopped short, and the Packers could breathe a sigh of relief.

Green Bay certainly has some concerns on defense after giving up 477 total yards to the Saints. New Orleans also converted on 9 of 14 third downs, so Dom Caper’s defense simply wasn’t getting enough pressure on Brees. But like they’ve been doing over the last few years, the defense has stepped up and made a play when they needed to most. Greg Jennings was Rodgers’ favorite target, catching seven balls for 89 yards and a touchdown. Jordy Nelson picked up right where he left off in the Super Bowl, making six receptions for 77 yards and a score.

Carolina

The Packers allowed Brees to throw for 419 yards last week, a number that was only topped by Newton among NFC quarterbacks. The Heisman Trophy winner had a stunning debut, throwing for 422 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. He also rushed for another score in their 28-21 loss to Arizona last Sunday. Newton’s yardage total was the most-ever by a quarterback making his first NFL start. There were many doubters after a preseason in which Newton only completed 40.4 percent of his passes, but so far, he’s proving everyone wrong.

Steve Smith appears to be back and better than ever. He caught eight balls for 178 yards and two touchdowns last week. The Panthers did not get much out of their running game, though, as DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart combined for just 56 rushing yards on 19 carries. They suffered a big blow on defense as Jon Beason went out with a season-ending torn left Achilles tendon. He had made 65 straight starts, but now Dan Connor is asked to step in for him at middle linebacker. Beason was the leader of the defense, and he’ll certainly be missed.

Betting Trends

The last meeting between these teams resulted in a 35-31 victory by Carolina at Lambeau Field in 2008. They last met in Carolina in 2005, with the Panthers once again proving victorious by a final of 32-29. Carolina has lost six of its last seven home openers. Green Bay has won five straight road openers under Mike McCarthy, and the Packers are 7-4 all-time in this series.

Green Bay enters this contest on a 21-8-1 ATS run in their last 30 games overall. The Packers have gone 12-3-1 AS in their last 16 vs. a team with a losing record. The Panthers don’t have many good trends working in their favor. Carolina is 2-6 ATS in their last 8 home games, and 1-7 ATS in their last 8 vs. NFC foes. The Panthers are also 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog of 3.5-10.0 points.

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