Sport: NFLPick Selection: Green Bay Packers -10.5 -105
Oakland Raiders at Green Bay Packers 1:00 PM ET
Green Bay Packers -10.5 -105
Green Bay was humbled last week at Dallas and probably lost the home field advantage throughout the playoffs with the defeat against the Cowboys. Now it is time to get some of that momentum back and what better spot than against an overmatched team coming off an upset win at home. The Packers got an extra three days of rest for this game and that certainly helps the Brett Favre situation although he would have gone had it been a regular week anyway.
Oakland took out Denver last Sunday and it was its second straight win following a victory at Kansas City the prior week. Coming off two straight division games with a game at home against Indianapolis on deck is a definite go against spot. The Raiders had dropped six straight games prior to the win over the Chiefs, getting outgained in five of those so this team has not changed all of a sudden. The Raiders have not won three straight games since going to the Super Bowl back in 2002-03.
Aaron Rodgers played very well in relief of Favre against the Cowboys but he may be unavailable on Sunday after hurting his hamstring on Tuesday at the end of practice. That means the Packers won?t have an option but to play Favre. The Raiders bring in a solid passing defense as they are ranked 5th in the NFL but that is very inaccurate considering teams have not had to pass a lot on Oakland due to big leads. The Raiders are allowing 7.36 ypa which is 24th in the league and a much more accurate ranking.
The Raiders have been up and down obviously but the one thing that is hurting them the most is the quarterback inconsistency. All three quarterbacks have been decent enough but all three have not had a chance to get any sort of rhythm going. Injuries to Daunte Culpepper and JaMarcus Russell led the way for Josh McCown last week as he put up solid numbers and a 125.2 rating. Even with that, he has not even been named the starter as it depends again on the health of Culpepper. Not knowing is bad news.
The Raiders had that big victory over Denver and common knowledge in the league is to go against that team next time out and it is backed up in a great situation. Play against road teams that are coming off an upset win as a home underdog and with a losing record on the season. This situation is 30-9 ATS (76.9 percent) over the last five seasons. The weather will be a factor as well as it will be a cold one and that affects the warm weather teams. The Raiders are just 16-36 ATS in their last 52 December games. Play Green Bay Packers 2 Units
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