Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers: Betting Guide

Betting Lines

Head to Head

The last time these teams met was in 2020. The Packers won a Thursday night game 34-17 in the Bay Area. It’s important to note that Garoppolo did not play in that game due to injury. Obviously, Trey Lance had not yet joined the 49ers since he was still in college. That is a massive difference. The 49ers were also missing Nick Bosa and a number of other key defensive players in an injury-ravaged 2020 season. That’s why the Niners missed the playoffs.

Green Bay Packers

Next game: vs. Steelers

Last Game

The Packers’ last game was against the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football. Green Bay won 35-17, but the Lions were able to move the ball consistently against the Packers’ defense. The Lions and quarterback Jared Goff weren’t able to finish drives, but they moved the ball between the 20-yard lines. The good news for the Packers is that the offense got healthy against Detroit after scoring just three points against the New Orleans Saints in Week 1. Aaron Jones was a touchdown machine and the Packers’ running game burst into action. That’s the ground attack coach Matt LaFleur was hoping to see. Rodgers was solid and looked like his normal self after a disastrous opener the week before. Green Bay now goes to the West Coast knowing it can play at an elite level on offense. The defense is the huge concern entering this prime-time showdown.

Injury Report

Tight end Josiah Deguara, who is not an especially important player for the Packers, missed the Monday night game. Safety Vernon Scott also did not play. How the Packers’ injury report stacks up on Friday will give a much better indication of where the team stands.

San Francisco 49ers

Next game: vs Seahawks

Last Game

The 49ers had a very tough time scoring against the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense in the 17-11 win. The 49ers have a problem on their offensive line and haven’t able to blast open holes, unlike the team which went to the Super Bowl two years ago. The 49ers have also been crushed by injuries at running back, with Raheem Mostert lost in the season opener and three others hurt at Philadelphia. That has made it harder for Garoppolo to operate. The 49ers want to establish the ground game so that Garoppolo can use play-action passes to get defenses off balance and set up big plays down the field. When that component of their offense is taken away, this becomes a much more average and vulnerable offense, as seen against the Eagles. However, the defense, with a healthy Bosa, is a monster. This is part of what helped San Francisco make the Super Bowl two seasons ago. The pass rush is relentless and the defensive line is going to expose weaker offensive lines. The Eagles won their Week 1 game easily, but that was against the woeful Atlanta Falcons. The 49ers were a step up in weight class and their defense allowed just one touchdown to Philadelphia’s sputtering offense.

Injury Report

Cornerback Jason Verrett tore his ACL in the opener and is out for the year. Cornerback Emmanuel Moseley missed Week 2 against the Philadelphia Eagles due to injury, as did key linebacker Dre Greenlaw, the most important defensive player the Niners lacked last week. If you betonline, watch for more detailed injury reports later this week as teams see which players are able to participate in practice.

Betting on the Game

Moneyline

Taking a strong stand on the moneyline in this game feels risky. It’s just not clear which team is better. Green Bay has huge weaknesses on defense while San Francisco is wobbling on offense. Green Bay desperately wants to avoid falling to 1-2, but San Francisco is at home after a two-game road trip to start the season. This is the first 49ers home game with fans since the 2019 season, since the they weren’t allowed to play in front of fans in 2020 season due to pandemic-related issues. The home crowd is going to be jacked up and that should make things tougher for Green Bay. It’s a situation in which either bet feels tenuous. It’s hard to get a really good read on how these teams compare with each other.

Point Spread

The point spread is an easier way to make a play on this game. The Packers could lose this game by a field goal and still cover the 3½-point spread. That seems like a decent play, though it is easy to imagine either team getting hot and running away with this in a blowout, similar to the Packers’ 38-3 loss to the New Orleans Saints in Week 1.

Over/Under

The 50 number seems just about right. Neither team is going to score 30 points. The 49ers’ defense is too strong and their offense is too weak for this game to become a shootout. San Francisco’s lack of a running game will make its offense vulnerable but its pass rush should bother Rodgers. This feels like an under game, so go that way with your NFL predictions.

Final Score: San Francisco 49ers 23, Green Bay Packers 20