NFL Week 1 Picks: Green Bay Packers vs. Seattle Seahawks

Green Bay Packers vs. Seattle Seahawks
Thursday, 9/4/14, 8:30 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Seattle -5.5
Current Betting Line: Seattle -6
Opening Total: 45
Current Total: 46.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Green Bay Packers are 2-7-1 ATS as underdogs since 2012

Green Bay will take on the defending Super Bowl champions in its season opener for the first time in franchise history, as it tries to gain revenge from a 14-12 loss to Seattle as three-point road favorites in the last meeting in the series on Sept. 24, 2012. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is prepared to play a full season after missing seven games with a collarbone injury, which is important to consider when making your Week 1 NFL betting picks, as he threw for 2,536 yards with 17 touchdowns and six interceptions. Green Bay is 2-8 SU and 2-7-1 ATS as underdogs the last two-plus seasons.

The Packers need to do a better job of protecting Rogers, as he’s been sacked 139 times since 2010, which can’t be ignored when looking over the NFL betting odds. Green Bay should be balanced offensively with the return of second-year running back Eddie Lacy, who finished eighth in the league with 1,178 yards and sat behind just two players in scoring 11 rushing touchdowns.

Seattle is trying to avoid complacency after picking up a 43-8 victory over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII this past February, as it split its four preseason games leading up to the regular season opener. The Seahawks are 15-1 SU at CenturyLink Field the last two seasons, with much of that success being attributed to a defense that led the league in scoring defense during the 2013 campaign. Seattle is 10-1 SU and 9-2 ATS as favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points the last two-plus seasons.

The Seahawks are certainly capable of matching points with the Packers, with third-year signal-caller Russell Wilson leading the offense, while running back Marshawn Lynch returning to the fold after gaining 4,624 yards and 41 touchdowns in the regular season since landing the Pacific Northwest in 2010. Wide receiver Percy Harvin should allow the offense to be more vertical, as he played only one regular-season game in 2013.