Sunday Night Football Betting Preview
After accumulating a combined 12 wins through seven weeks, the Packers visit the Broncos Sunday night for a Week 8 battle of unbeatens.
Sportsbook.ag Sunday Night Football Betting Preview
GREEN BAY PACKERS (6-0) at DENVER BRONCOS (6-0)
Sportsbook.ag Line: Green Bay -3, Total: 46
Both clubs have future Hall of Fame quarterbacks leading powerful offenses, but both teams also have elite defenses. Aaron Rodgers-led Green Bay (6-0 SU, 5-1 ATS) boasts the league’s top scoring defense (16.8 PPG allowed), while Denver (6-0 SU, 4-1-1 ATS) has masked Peyton Manning's declining play with an NFL-low 281 total YPG allowed.
Tellingly, the all-time series between the teams is evened up at 6-6-1 SU, though the Packers have taken all three of the matchups this century. Green Bay is also 9-1 ATS against mistake-prone teams (60+ penalty YPG) over the past three seasons, and the team may feel right at home at Mile High Stadium, as it is 14-3 ATS in games played on a grass field over the past two years.
Denver has several compelling trends in its corner this week, as well. Home teams coming off of one or more straight Overs in a game featuring a good offensive team (23-to-27 PPG) against a great defensive team (14-to-18 PPG allowed) are 30-9 ATS over the past 10 seasons, and the Broncos are 12-3 ATS at home against excellent teams (10+ PPG margin) since 1992.
Both teams will be monitoring a handful of injuries going into Sunday night. For the Packers, WR Ty Montgomery, DT B.J. Raji (groin), and LB Nick Perry (shoulder) are questionable, while WR Davante Adams (ankle) and S Morgan Burnett (calf) are probable. The Broncos may be without WR Emmanuel Sanders (shoulder), RB Juwan Thompson (hamstring), LB Demarcus Ware (back), and T Ty Sambrailo (shoulder), who are all listed as questionable to play.
With Aaron Rodgers at the helm, the Green Bay offense has been firing on all cylinders, scoring 27.3 PPG (5th out of 32) and gaining 364 total YPG (11th out of 32). The team has been masterful in protecting the ball, turning it over just four times (2nd out of 32), though they could be more disciplined, averaging nine penalties for 69 lost yards in road games. Rodgers has thrown 15 passing TD (2nd out of 32) and touts the 2nd-highest passer rating in the league (115.9).
Veteran WR James Jones has been the biggest beneficiary of his quarterback’s productivity, snagging six touchdowns to lead the league. This week’s game will be Rodgers’ second career matchup with the Broncos. In their only previous meeting, he threw for 408 yards, four touchdowns and an interception in a win (SU and ATS).
On the other side of the ball, the Packers’ defense has been excellent so far this season, allowing opponents just 16.8 PPG (1st out of 32) and staying on the field for only 27:39 per game on the road. In the past three games, Green Bay has allowed a subpar 359 total YPG, but has given up only 11.0 PPG.
For a team that is undefeated going into Week 8, the Denver offense has been average at best with 23.2 PPG (14th out of 32), but have only 326 total YPG (29th in NFL), due to a horrendous ground game.
The revolving door between RB C.J. Anderson and RB Ronnie Hillman has produced just 510 rushing yards (30th out of 32) and two touchdowns (28th out of 32). Without a reliable rushing attack, the team has leaned heavily on QB Peyton Manning, who has the 8th-highest amount of pass attempts this season (237), but just seven touchdowns (24th out of 32), and 5.8 net yards per attempt (31st out of 32) to show for it. Manning also leads the league in interceptions thrown with 10.
The shoulder injury to WR Emmanuel Sanders could be further cause for concern for the team, as he has caught 38 passes for 527 yards and 3 TD. Manning is 1-1 SU and ATS against Green Bay in his career, averaging 311 passing yards, and amassing five touchdowns and two interceptions.
There’s a reason the Broncos are undefeated, though, and that is an elite defense. The team allows opponents just 23.2 PPG (2nd out of 32) and leads the league in total defense (326 YPG), passing defense (1,153 YPG), turnovers generated (17) and fewest passing TD allowed (5), and has scored four defensive touchdowns, which are twice as many as the team’s running backs combined.
