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New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers will kick off the defense of their title on Thursday night when they face up against 2009 Super Bowl Champions, the New Orleans Saints.
Venue/Stadium: Lambeau Filed in Green Bay, Wisconsin
Time/Date: 8:30 PM ET, Thursday, September 8, 2011
Moneyline: Green Bay Packers -220, New Orleans Saints +180
Spread (ATS): Green Bay Packers -4 ½
Over/Under: 48
The Packers’ season last year was one to remember, and the team hopes to make 2011 campaign just as memorable.
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They’ll kick off that pursuit Thursday when they face the New Orleans Saints in the kickoff game of the NFL regular season at Lambeau Field.
Both teams are primed to contend for the NFC title, and this game could very well be an extremely important game down the line when playoff spots are decided.
Both teams are going to put up points, there is no question, with two of the top five quarterbacks in the entire league matching up against one another. There is one major difference between the teams, though, and that’s defense.
Green Bay’s defense is light-years ahead of New Orleans’, and this will most likely be the deciding factor.
The Packers defense is likely to put a lot more pressure on Saints quarterback Drew Brees than Aaron Rodgers will have to deal with, and that is the most important aspect of the game when two tremendous passing attacks face off.
New Orleans clearly has the advantage in the rushing department, as the addition of rookie running back Mark Ingram gives them a bruising back that can give Brees yet another option to his offensive game plan: play action. If they can establish a running game early, and keep Rodgers off the field, they will likely be able to put up a lot more points than Green Bay.
It is questionable if the Saints will be able to do so against Green Bay’s defense, especially if they come out of the gate playing like they did in the 2010 playoffs.
Matt’s Prediction: Green Bay – The Packers are just too solid in every aspect of the game to pick against them. The Saints will keep it close, but the more balanced team will come out on top, and that’s Green Bay. I wouldn’t count out there being a rematch of this game in the NFC Championship game come January.
The odds makers have the Green Bay Packers as a -4.5 point favorite with an over/under of 48.
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New Orleans Saints Betting Trends:
- New Orleans is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games
- New Orleans is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
- New Orleans is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of New Orleans’s last 5 games on the road
Green Bay Packers Betting Trends:
- Green Bay is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Green Bay’s last 6 games at home
- Green Bay is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Green Bay’s last 5 games when playing New Orleans
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