Thursday, May 17th, 2012
The Green Bay Packers will hit the highway in a week 17 NFL pro football game with the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday afternoon. Kick off time in Arizona is scheduled for 4:15PM Eastern Time with regional television coverage provided by Fox.
The LVSC NFL odds makers have set the opening point spread in this game and the Arizona Cardinals were opened as a 3 point favorite with the over under coming in at 43 ½.
The early money from the NFL betting public has come in on the home favorite, as the Arizona Cardinals are currently a 3-½ point favorite. The total has seen early movement towards the under, as the over under is currently lined at 42 ½ for the betting public to play into.
NFL money line gamblers can make a play on the favored Arizona Cardinals at –201 with the road underdog Green Bay Packers bringing back +181 to win without the need for getting the points.
In week 17 one must look at a teams motivation heading into the playoffs. Coaches who are playing for a playoff spot, a bye or home field advantage throughout the playoffs will go all out for victory. Teams usually rest starters in week 17 when they are only playing for seeding position.
Green Bay Packers have clinched a playoff spot and will be on the road facing a division champion in the wildcard round. They could be looking at short week as the NFL wildcard rounds have 1 NFC playoff game on Saturday and 1 NFC playoff game on Sunday. Green Bay has a 50% chance of a short week playing on Saturday in the wildcard round. Green Bay is playing strictly for seeding position, so expect to see starters getting rest in this game. We may see first-string players getting two series and at the most just play the first half.
Arizona sits at 10-5 on the season and has clinched the NFC West. They have an outside shot of earning a first round bye in the playoffs. They sit 1 game behind Philadelphia and Minnesota in the race for a bye. The team will need both Minnesota and Philadelphia to lose. Arizona will know the fate of the Vikings game at kick off as the Vikings host the Giants in the 1PM Eastern Time slot. Philadelphia kicks off against Dallas at the same time Arizona is playing Green Bay at the 4:15PM Eastern Time slot. Should Minnesota win the Cardinals cannot get a bye and most likely will rest starters in preparation of hosting a wildcard playoff game on Saturday or Sunday.
Expect to see backup quarterback Matt Flynn under center for the Packers for much of this game. The second year starter has seen just limited action this season hitting on 6 of 9 passes for 51 yards no touchdowns and no picks. Flynn just made 5 passes in his rookie season so this will be a good opportunity to see what the young signal caller can do in a regular season road game.
Expect to see lead running back Ryan Grant get rest in this game. Grant has had a history of injury problems and I would be very surprised if he got any carries in this game. His backup is veteran running back Ahman Green who was signed by the team on October 22nd. He has carried the ball 29 times this season for a 4.1 yards a carry average. Third year pro Brandon Jackson will get carries on Sunday and has rushed 31 times for only 94 yards two touchdowns with 3.0 yards a carry average.
The Packers have played good defense down the stretch except in a road outing at Pittsburgh two weeks back. Ben Roethlisberger was able to pass for 472 yards on the Packers on December 20th in a 37-36 Packers loss. One has to be concerned here with the Packers most likely fielding backups against an Arizona team going all out if Minnesota loses next week in the early game against the New York Giants.
Arizona enters this game with two straight victories over bad teams. They are coming off a 31-10 home win against the St Louis Rams while piling up over 400 yards of offense.
Starting quarterback Kurt Warner hit on 24 of 38 last week for 313 yards two touchdowns and no interceptions. The veteran has hit on 66% of his passes this season with 26 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
If Minnesota wins in the early game expect to see backup quarterback Matt Leinart for most of this game. The four-year pro got the start in week 12 at the Tennessee Titans as Kurt Warner was suffering from the effects of a concussion. In his start Leinart hit on 21 of 31 for 220 yards no touchdowns and no picks. In his career Leinart has hit on 57% of his passes with 14 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.
Cardinal’s running backs Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower have performed well. Arizona’s duo of backs combined for a 4.4 yards a carry average. If Minnesota wins on Sunday don’t expect to see many if any carries from the Cardinals two running backs. Running back LaRod Stephens-Howling would most likely see the bulk of the work next week if Minnesota wins in the early game. The young running back has only carried the ball 5 times this season for 12 yards.
Defensively the Cardinals allow 19.5 points per game. They are 22nd against the pass allowing 233 yards per game. Should Minnesota clinch a first round bye in the early game the defensive starters will most likely see very little action in this game.
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NFL Trend: Green Bay Packers are 5-0 ATS in their past 5 games
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