Last season recap
The previous NFL betting season was bittersweet for the Green Bay Packers. The team finished with a 10-6 record and secured a playoff berth for the seventh season in a row – tied with the New England Patriots for longest active postseason streak. However, they could not win a fifth straight NFC North title. Moreover, while they beat the Washington Redskins 35-18 in the Wild Card playoffs, the Packers fell to the Arizona Cardinals 20-26 in OT in the divisional playoffs. Thus Green Bay failed to appear in the Super Bowl once again. Their last championship game appearance was in 2010, which they won.
What’s New
The 2-016 season will be Green Bay’s 97th in the NFL, and the 10th with head coach Mike McCarthy. The Packers resigned Chris ‘Dueling’ Banjo, Don Barclay, Mason Crosby, Mike Daniels, Letroy Guion, Justin Perillo, Nick Perry, James Starks, and Lane Taylor. Conversely, Casey Hayward (Chargers), Andy Mulumba (Chiefs), and Scott Tolzien (Colts) left, while Brett Goode and Andrew Quarless were placed on Injured Reserve, and B.J. is in a supposed ‘hiatus’. In the 2016 draft, Green Bay selected nose tackle Kenny Clark from UCLA as the 27th overall pick in the first round. In subsequent rounds they selected Jason Spriggs, Kyler Fackrell, Blake Martinez, Dean Lowry, Trevor Davis, and Kyle Murphy. Additionally, Green Bay signed several undrafted free agents, notably QB Joe Callahan from Wesley who won the Gagliardi Trophy in 2015 – though if we were to submit it to NFL betting experts, his odds of starting are not very good as long as Aaron Rodgers is around and healthy.
What to expect
First of all, Green Bay fans who bet on NFL can expect Eddie Lacy to have lost some weight. The running back reportedly reunited with founder of the P90X exercise regime Tony Horton this summer. The fitness guru had worked with Lacy previously after coach McCarthy had given him an ultimatum. Lacy had the best rookie and sophomore seasons for a tailback in the history of the Packers, but can he pull his weight (zing!)? Just in case, though, the Packers added rookie RB Brandon Ross to the roster. The Minnesota Vikings signed Ross as free agent but released him after only three weeks. Ross recorded 6.4 yards per carry and 10 TDs in his senior year at Maryland, and will compete with rookies Don Jackson and Brandon Burks, as well as second-year rookie John Crocket for a potential third halfback spot. Jared Cook, Jordy Nelson – back from a season-ending ACL tear – and Datone Jones are among the Green Bay players that NFL betting fans will keep an eye on next season. All in all, things are looking good for the Packers, being the favorite to at the very least win the NFC North Division title. The Packers should be able to win at least another 10 games – same as last season – or even 11 to improve on last year’s output.
Odds to win Super Bowl LI: +1095
