Green Bay Packers vs. Tennessee Titans: NFL Preseason Week 1 Betting Preview

Green Bay Packers vs. Tennessee Titans
Saturday, 8/9/14, 8:00 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Tennessee -1
Current Betting Line: Tennessee -2
Opening Total: 37.5
Current Total: 38
Odds Courtesy of 5Dimes

Tennessee Titans QB Jake Locker could be a player to watch with new head coach Ken Whisenhunt on the sidelines

Green Bay starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers expects his workload to be fairly light at the start of the preseason opener, as he hinted in practice that he may play only one or two series before giving way to Matt Flynn and Scott Tolzien. The Packers also plan to use Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers sparingly on the defensive side of the ball, which can’t be ignored when making your pro football picks. Green Bay’s nine games against Tennessee during exhibition play is the most it has played against any team in the league dating back to 2000.

The Packers are opening the preseason on the road for the third time in the last four seasons, while this also marks the ninth time in the last 10 exhibition campaigns that their slate consists of at least three teams from the AFC. Green Bay has 46.1 percent of its roster being its own draft picks, including seven players selected in the first round over the years, with all of them still on the squad. Head coach Mike McCarthy is looking for a crisp game from his club, especially since it ranks third in the league in turning the ball over just 93 times since 2009.

Tennessee will open up the Ken Whisenhunt era in this affair, as he became the 17th head coach in franchise history on Jan. 3—arriving with 17 years of league experience as a coach and nine seasons as a player. The Titans have won seven of 10 preseason meetings against the Packers, which is important to consider when looking over the pro football odds, including a 27-13 home victory in 2009. A win in this spot would improve Whisenhunt’s overall record in this situation to 9-17.

The Titans need fourth-year signal-caller Jake Locker to take the next step, as the former first-round pick appeared in seven total games in 2013—completing 111 of 183 passes for 1,256 yards and eight touchdowns with four interceptions. Whisenhunt is widely regarded as one of the best in terms of coaching up quarterbacks, as he’s already shortened up Locker’s stride and mechanics.