Posted
on 12/13/2007 1:55 PM
By: CappersPicks.com NFL Football Handicapping
Staff
NFL Online Betting - Packers (-10 ½) vs. Rams (+10 ½)
Last week
the Green Bay Packers bounced back in
a big way, dominating the Oakland Raiders
on both sides of the ball (easily covering
the 10 ½ point spread),
and clinching the NFC North title. At 11-2,
Head Coach Mike McCarthy is doing an outstanding
job keeping his team focused on the next
game at hand. This week the Packers visit
the Edward James Dome to take on a Rams’ team
hit hard by injuries all season long, but
looking forward to the likely return of
starting quarterback Marc Bulger. The former “greatest
show on turf” has stalled this season
with an offense ranked 27th in the league
with a demoralizing 1-6 home record. Meanwhile
the Packers have only lost once on the
road (in Dallas) and the Packers’ 3rd-ranked
offense is humming to the tune of 383 yards
a game. The Week 15 line has the visitors
favored by (-10 ½) and unless the
Rams find a miracle cure, Green Bay should
cruise to victory.
The Packers’ offensive line did
an excellent job in pass protection last
week, keeping a dinged up Brett Favre out
of harms way. Favre responded by throwing
for 266 yards and a pair of touchdowns
(including an 80-yard strike to Greg Jennings).
Green Bay has discovered a balanced attack
with the help of running back Ryan Grant.
Last week he ran wild for 156 yards and
a touchdown against Oakland, while he has
accumulated a staggering 558 yards and
five touchdowns over the last five games.
Last week Green Bay ran the ball 36 times
versus only 23 passing downs (a ratio that
seemed unimaginable before Grant’s
coming out party). The Rams defense has
lost key starters up front, in the middle
and in the secondary. Expect more of the
same from Green Bay running the ball with
Grant to chew up yards and clock while
Favre looks to connect deep with his corps
of dangerous receivers. Middle linebacker
Will Witherspoon is a gifted playmaker
who will make his presence felt, but the
Rams will have trouble matching up in the
secondary. Greg Jennings and James Jones
will challenge corners Fakhir Brown and
Ron Bartell. Brett Favre should also be
able to exploit the middle of the field
finding Donald Driver and prospering tight
end Donald Lee.
Rams’ quarterbacks have been sacked
40 times this season (4th highest in the
NFL) which explains Marc Bulger’s
concussion problems and highlights a courageous
return that Scott Linehan is hoping will
spark the team’s offense. Decimated
by injuries the patchwork offensive line
only features one projected starter from
the beginning of the season. Rams’ tackles
Alex Barron and Brandon Gorin will be in
tough going up against defensive ends Aaron
Kampman and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (a tandem
that has produced 20.5 sacks). The Rams
will need to run the ball with authority
and they do possess just the man to make
it happen. Healthy again, Steven Jackson
is creating havoc for defenses breaking
off big runs every game (Over 50-yard gains
in each the last three games). Packer linebackers’ Nick
Barnett and A.J. Hawk will narrow their
sights on stopping Jackson.
Green Bay
has done a good job corralling top running
backs this season and they rank 12th
in the league giving up less than 100
yards a game. Bulger will look downfield
for Tory Holt and Isaac Bruce – two
crafty veteran receivers who will face
constant physical press coverage from Charles
Woodsen and Al Harris. This should be enough
to at least limit the duos production while
Drew Bennett has not been the explosive
offensive threat the Rams had hoped for.
The Green
Bay Packers are 8-1-1 ATS in their last
10 road games and 4-0 ATS in their last
4 games as a favorite. They’ll
take another step toward hosting a postseason
game at Lambeau Field.
NFL BETTING
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AT -10 ½
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