Green Bay is Favorite Against LA Rams in NFL Preseason Game

Green Bay is Favorite Against LA Rams in NFL Preseason Game

Written by on August 29, 2017

In one way, Week 4 of the NFL preseason is the best of them because every team plays on Thursday. On the other hand, it’s the worst because the starters on most teams around the league are going to play very little if at all. The Rams close their slate in Green Bay as an NFL betting underdog.

LA Rams at Green Bay NFL Preseason Week 4 Odds & Betting Preview

When: Thursday, 7 PM ET Where: Lambeau Field, Green Bay TV: Local only (NFL Network replay) Radio: ESPNLA 710AM (Los Angeles) / 620 WTMJ (Green Bay) Stream Option: NFL Live Opening NFL Preseason Lines: Packers -3.5 (37.5)

Weather Forecast

  • Clear: 17°C/63°F
  • Humidity: 65%
  • Precipitation: 3%
  • Wind: 6 mph E
  • Cloud Cover: 0%
  • Type of Stadium: Open

NFL Preseason Week 3 Results

Green Bay (2-1) lost Saturday in Denver 20-17. Starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers played just two series and the Packers were substituting regularly on defense by the second quarter. With starting right tackle Bryan Bulaga sidelined by an ankle injury, Rodgers was sacked by Denver star Von Miller early in the game, forcing a field-goal try. That was the two-time MVP’s last snap. Penalties and sacks were the biggest problems in backup Brett Hundley (20-of- 30, 186 yards, 83.5 rating) getting much going until a scoring drive in the fourth quarter cut into Denver’s 20-10 lead. Ty Montgomery (three carries for 31 yards and a touchdown), fourth-round pick Jamaal Williams (three catches for a team-high 46 yards) and fifth-round pick Aaron Jones (six carries for 43 yards) led the way for a backfield that produced 166 total yards. The Rams (2-1) lost at home to the Chargers 21-19 on Saturday – the Rams were down 21-0 in the first quarter. Jared Goff was 4 of 6 for 49 yards. He fumbled on a snap and it was returned for a touchdown. Sean Mannion played well, including throwing a 38-yard TD pass to Josh Reynolds in the third quarter. Travis Coons kicked a 53-yard field goal after starter Greg Zuerlein made field goals of 42, 21 and 57 yards. The Rams held out running back Todd Gurley and wide receivers Tavon Austin and Cooper Kupp, who have injuries.

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Packers Notes

This is the Rams’ first visit to Lambeau Field during the preseason. The only other time that the Packers hosted the Rams in the preseason came in 1994 when the teams faced off in Madison, Wis. It is the third preseason meeting between the teams in the last five seasons. The most recent meeting between the two teams in the preseason came in 2014, a 21-7 victory by the Packers in St. Louis. The last overall matchup came in the 2015 regular season when the Rams traveled to Green Bay and the Packers won, 24-10. The Packers hold a 3-2 advantage over the Rams in the preseason, while the regular-season series is tied at 45-45-2. If Green Bay wins, it will finish the preseason with a 3-1 record for the third time in the last four years. Coach Mike McCarthy still believes in the importance of this game. McCarthy did not get into specifics about playing time on Thursday vs. the Rams, but he said both the No. 3 and 4 quarterbacks, Joe Callahan and Taysom Hill, would play after not getting any action in Denver. “It’s all about opportunity,” McCarthy said on Monday. “It happens every year, the fourth game, somebody jumps out, takes the rope, and he’ll be here when the 53 is picked.”

Still No Donald

Rams coach Sean McVay said the situation with Aaron Donald (holdout) is “where it’s been the last couple weeks.” There has not been any progress, and McVay said the team has not “received any word” on if Donald will end his holdout before the season. Are the Rams a safer bet than the Packers in this NFL preseason matchup? “Right now, that dialogue is ongoing,” McVay said. “That’s something that we’re working through to try and get figured out as soon as possible. If we do, we’ll be excited about that and if not, we’ve got to be ready to adjust and move forward.” The coach added the team is “optimistic and hopeful,” but this situation looks like it has a real chance to stretch into the regular season. Donald is one of the best defensive players in the NFL. Austin has made “huge progress” in his recovery from a hamstring injury and is expected to be ready for the regular-season opener against the Indianapolis Colts on Sept. 10. Austin, a fifth-year receiver, won’t end up playing in any preseason games, and neither will outside linebacker Robert Quinn, inside linebacker Mark Barron and cornerback Kayvon Webster. But those three, like Austin, will practice these next couple of weeks.

Team Series History

  • Total Meetings: 94
  • First Meeting: October 17th, 1937. League Park. Cleveland, Ohio
  • Last Meeting: December 11th, 2015. Lambeau Field. Green Bay, Wisconsin
  • All-Time Series: Tied 46-46-2
  • Largest Margin of Victory: LA Rams 48-7 (1949)
  • Longest Win Streak: LA Rams 11 (1948-1953)
  • Current Win Streak: Green Bay 7 (2007-2015)

NFL Preseason Game Betting Trends

  • Rams are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 Thursday games.
  • Rams are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games.
  • Los Angeles is 1-10- 1 ATS in the last 12 games overall.
  • Packers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games.

Expert NFL Preseason Prediction

Take Green Bay simply as it’s the home team even though Rodgers won’t leave the bench.