Can Packers Defy the NFL Odds for Week 7 without Aaron Rodgers?

Injuries are an expected part of professional sports, especially in football where the hits tend to be violent in nature. No team escapes the season unscathed, but the hope is always that when injuries do arrive, they do not fall in the direction of the best players on the team. The Green Bay Packers may well have been a Super Bowl champion last season if injuries had not finally caught up with them. They had more than their fair share last year, and it seems as though the injury bug is going to bite them again this season, as they have now lost Aaron Rodgers with a collarbone injury that will likely keep him out for the rest of the season, one of the reasons the NFL odds for Week 7 are not by their side. This is a devastating blow for a team that was among the favorites to win the NFC, and now you have to wonder how they are going to move on from this event. They will start to try and do so this weekend when they welcome the suddenly hot New Orleans Saints to Lambeau Field. The Saints are a 5-point favorite, with the point total for this one set at 47 ½.

Saints (3-2) vs. Packers (4-2) NFL Odds & Game Preview

John DeShazier: Young Saints players getting their first taste of success https://t.co/ze9eM9bvFP
— John DeShazier (@JohnDeShazier) 18 de octubre de 2017

When: Sunday, October 22 at 1 PM EST
Where: Lambeau Field, Green Bay
TV: FOX
Radio: 105.3 FM (New Orleans) / 620 AM (Green Bay)
Live Stream: NFL Game Pass
NFL Odds: New Orleans Saints -4.5 (Over/Under set at 47.5)

Weather Forecast

Chance of Rain: 16°C/61°F
Humidity: 77%
Precipitation: 51%
Cloud Cover: 97%
Wind: 9 mph WSW
Stadium Type: Open

Rams Are Week 7 NFL Betting Favorites vs. Cardinals This Sunday

Series History

Total Meetings: 24
First Meeting: November 17, 1968. New Orleans Saints 29 – Green Bay Packers 7
Last Meeting: October 26, 2014. Green Bay Packers 23 – New Orleans Saints 44
All-Time Series: Green Bay Packers lead series 16-8-0
Largest Margin of Victory: Green Bay Packers by 49 points (2005)
Longest Win Streak: Green Bay Packers winning 7
Current Win Streak: New Orleans Saints winning 1

Why consider the Saints NFL Odds for Week 7?

It looked as though this might turn out to be another disappointing season for the Saints after an 0-2 start, but what a difference a few weeks makes. New Orleans has turned things around nicely, winning 3 in a row and benefitting from an NFC South division that is tighter than a lot of people expected. One of the biggest surprises during this positive run has been the play of the Saints defense, which is usually a sore point. Sure, they gave up some big points in a 52-38 win over the Lions last weekend, but in the two previous games, they had surrendered just 13 points total, including pitching a shutout against the Miami Dolphins in a game played in London, England. This game is one that they would ordinarily be expected to lose, but the absence of Aaron Rodgers has suddenly made the Saints a favorite to win their 4th straight. While they are just 1-5 SU in their last 6 games in Green Bay, they are 4-1 ATS, and also 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games overall.

Team Statistics

Offense

Average Score For: 29.00
Total Yards: 372.2
Rush Yards: 113.80
Passing Yards: 258.40

Defense

Average Score Against: 23.20
Total Yards: 369.2
Rush Yards: 100.80
Passing Yards: 268.40

Why consider the Packers NFL Odds for Week 7?

With Aaron Rodgers out of the picture, the Green Bay Packers will hand over the QB reins to Brett Hundley. The Packers have stated that they will not seek out veteran help in order to fill the hole, making it clear that they are happy with what Hundley brings to the table. It’s tough to judge the young QB based on his limited body of work, but there has to be some concern that he entered the game against the Vikings last week and proceeded to throw 3 INT versus 1 TD pass. He will, of course, be getting all the reps this week in practice, and may be able to get his timing down with the receivers.

Brett Hundley and the Packers are against the NFL Odds in Week 7.

Still, it’s asking a lot of a young man to match what gun slinging Drew Brees is going to be delivering for the Saints. The Packers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 at home and have also won 5 in a row there.

Team Statistics

Offense

Average Score For: 24.50
Total Yards: 318.33
Rush Yards: 88.33
Passing Yards: 230.00

Defense

Average Score Against: 22.50
Total Yards: 326.16
Rush Yards: 119.83
Passing Yards: 206.33

Latest NFL Week 7 Betting Trends

Saints are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games
Saints are 1-5 SU in their last 6 games when playing on the road against Green Bay
The total has gone OVER in 7 of New Orleans’s last 8 games
Packers are 10-5 ATS in their last 15 games
Packers are 12-3 SU in their last 15 games
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Green Bay’s last 13 games

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

All the positive stats that we see for the Green Bay Packers were achieved when Aaron Rodgers was under center, so we can essentially throw them all out the window ahead of this one. I like the Saints to win, although I do think the Packers will cover in the NFL odds. Score: New Orleans Saints 24 – Green Bay Packers 20