The Packers won their preseason opener against Cleveland without star QB Aaron Rodgers and several regulars seeing the field. That could change on Thursday night when the Pack host Oakland. Or it might not. Green Bay is favored on NFL odds.
How To Bet Oakland at Green Bay Preseason Week 2 Expert Pick, Odds & TV Info
#OAKvsGB pic.twitter.com/AzyKtbhP1o
— OAKLAND RAIDERS (@RAIDERS) August 16, 2016
When: Thursday, Aug. 18, 8 PM ET
Where: Lambeau Field, Green Bay
TV: Check local listings
Opening NFL Lines: Packers -3 (42.5)
Why Bet on Oakland?
The Raiders looked pretty good in their preseason opener, a 31-10 win at Arizona. Derek Carr played two series for Oakland, the second one ending in Sebastian Janikowski’s 53-yard field goal. Carr completed 3 of 7 passes for 44 yards. Matt McGloin, meanwhile, threw touchdowns on two of his first three passes, while rookie Connor Cook completed 7-of- 11 passes for 71 yards. George Atkinson III, listed as Oakland’s fourth-string running back, scored on runs of 53 and 35 yards. Did Atkinson, who has spent most of the past two seasons on Oakland’s practice squad, play his way onto an initial 53-man roster?
S Karl Joseph and DE Jihad Ward were the only two players of the Raiders 2016 rookie class to start on either side of the ball, each totaling one tackle apiece for the defense. After some uncertainty regarding Joseph’s status for the first preseason game, the rookie started and played a total of nine defensive snaps before his evening ended. He was able to get his first game action since last October under his belt. Joseph suffered a knee injury while playing for West Virginia.
Raiders starting defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. was taken to the locker room on a cart early in the game with a hip injury. He is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. Edwards, a second-round pick out of Florida State in 2015, made 10 starts as a rookie and was emerging as a key player on Oakland’s improving defense late last season before getting hurt. Edwards had 2 1/2 sacks, provided pressure on the quarterback and was stout against the run. Also, running back Jalen Richard, who did not play against the Cardinals, is dealing with a knee issue and is considered week-to- week
Why Bet on Green Bay?
The Packers beat Cleveland 17-11 in their preseason opener. Not just without Rodgers, the Packers also played without top receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, and linebackers Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers. Mason Crosby made a pair of 54-yard field goals, and undrafted rookie Joe Callahan threw a touchdown pass as the fill-in for Rodgers.
It’s not clear if Rodgers will play here but it’s not looking great. Last week Rodgers said he planned to participate in this game. The QB backed up on those plans on Monday. Rodgers ran the scout team for the second straight day as former UCLA QB Brett Hundley worked with the first team. Rodgers had perhaps his best outing in camp going against the Packers’ No. 1 defense, which probably gave the team even more inclination to sit their best player for a majority of the preseason. Hundley missed the first game but probably will start.
The Packers and Raiders will face each other for the 10th time in the preseason. The Raiders lead the preseason series, 5-4, while Green Bay leads the regular-season series, 7-5.
This will be the third consecutive year the Packers and Raiders play each other. In 2015 they faced off during the regular season, with the Packers winning, 30-20, at Oakland, and in 2014 they played during the preseason, with Green Bay winning, 31-21, at Lambeau Field.
My Expert Pick
Take Green Bay and the under on NFL lines.
