Packers Eagles Betting Preview – Eagles Face Tough Test Against Packers
It’s a new era in Philadelphia. After a decade with Donovan McNabb leading head coach Andy Reid’s offense at the quarterback spot, Kevin Kolb takes over as the team’s new starter. The Eagles have one of the youngest rosters in the league, and will get a solid test on just how ready they are when the Green Bay Packers invade Pennsylvania for the season opener. The Packers are among the football betting favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl this season, and will waste little time challenging the young Eagles with their aggressive style on both sides of the ball.
NFL Betting:Green Bay Packers @ Philadelphia Eagles
Online Sports Betting Odds: Green Bay -3
Why To Bet On The Packers?
There may not be a better blueprint for how to break in a starting quarterback at the NFL level than how the Packers brought along Aaron Rodgers, save for the whole Brett Favre retirement debacle. After becoming the second quarterback selected in the 2005 NFL draft, Rodgers took a seat behind Favre and developed his game until the point where the coaching staff felt that he was ready to be a full-time starter. Rodgers rewarded the staff with his first Pro Bowl appearance a year ago by becoming the first player in NFL history to throw for 4,000 yards in his first two seasons. Rodgers will lead the Packers aerial attack that also features a plethora of talented receiving options, against an Eagles’ defense that can struggle against the pass. Green Bay made a successful switch to the 3-4 defense a year ago, and that maximized the production of a deep and talented linebacker corps that returns intact, and could give Kolb fits.
Why To Bet On The Eagles?
The Eagles are in a transition year, and while they have enough talent on both sides of the ball that they can still contend in the loaded NFC East, prognosticators may have overvalued this team. Kolb has done little to separate his self as a starter in limited opportunities, and will be playing on an offense that is severely lacking leadership after parting ways with longtime starters McNabb and running back Brian Westbrook. The defensive scheming will be key to this game, as the Eagles try and bring enough pressure to slow Rodgers and the Packers’ high-flying offense.
How The Game Will Play Out
The Eagles will be tested early and often on defense, and will need to find a way to slow Rodgers and company, with the ability to cause turnovers becoming that much more important. There should be some growing pains for an offense that is still developing chemistry following an offseason personnel overhaul, so expect for the Packers to take the early advantage. Whether the home crowd is enough to help keep this one close remains to be seen, but the Eagles will sure face a tough test to keep this one close regardless of where they play.
Packers Eagles Betting Pick: Packers
