Green Bay Packers at Indianapolis Colts
Friday, 8/26/11, 8:00 PM EST, TV: CBS
Opening Point Spread: Green Bay -9.5
Current Betting Line: Green Bay -8.5
Opening Total: 38.5
Current Total: 38.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
Green Bay heads to Indianapolis for its third preseason game and comes in off a 28-20 win over the Arizona Cardinals as five-point home favorites. The Packers dropped their first exhibition contest of the season, 27-17, in Cleveland during Week 1. This will be the second straight season that the team faces the Colts in the preseason, picking up a 59-24 win at Lambeau Field in 2010. The 59 points posted by Green Bay were the most by a Packers team in the preseason since 1938. It also marked the most by any team in a preseason game since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970. The ‘over’ is 8-2 in Green Bay’s last 10 exhibition contests.
The Packers first-team offense was on the field for three series last week against the Cardinals, as quarterback Aaron Rodgers played into the second quarter and completed 9 of 12 passes for 97 yards. He led the team to a touchdown drive out of a no-huddle offense that impressed head coach Mike McCarthy at this stage of camp. “I feel that we’ve always done a good job with the no-huddle,” McCarthy commented. “It’s good to get quality work, game-time work.” Green Bay backup quarterback Matt Flynn continues to impress behind Rodgers, hitting 5-of-6 throwing attempts for 141 yards and a touchdown.
Indianapolis continues to treat preseason games as meaningless in terms of the scoreboard in dropping its first two contests against the St. Louis Rams (33-10) and Washington Redskins (16-3). The Colts have been more concerned about the health of starting quarterback Peyton Manning, who underwent offseason neck surgery and many are now questioning if he’ll be ready for the season opener. The franchise signed veteran NFL quarterback Kerry Collins as insurance Wednesday and head coach Jim Caldwell knows what he’s getting. “Obviously, Kerry is a guy who has been around and he has a lot of experience,” Caldwell stated. Indianapolis is 2-8 ATS in its last 10 preseason games.
The Colts will start Curtis Painter for a third consecutive game under center Friday, as Collins gets acclimated with the playbook. Painter and potential third-string quarterback Dan Orlovsky have combined for a 34.4 passer rating, completing 19 of 43 passes for 273 yards, a touchdown and four interceptions. Indianapolis’ offense has generated just a single touchdown and two field goals under their watch. On the other side of the ball, defensive end Dwight Freeney and the rest of the starters are expected to see extending time in Week 3. The group has been left on an island due to the offense’s ineffectiveness, but forced three field goals with red zone stops last week.
Bettors will be interested in backing the Colts due to their 8-5 ATS mark following consecutive preseason losses, while the Packers are 14-15 ATS away from Lambeau Field before the regular season.
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