2014 NFL playoffs, 49ers vs. Packers: Betting odds, Wild Card pick, preview, trends
San Francisco thrives on the road and they are favored in the second NFC Wild Card game at Green Bay. The trends and odds favor the 49ers here, but Aaron Rodgers is back for the Packers.
The San Francisco 49ers finished the regular season on a 6-0 SU and 4-2 ATS run, but they’ll have to start the postseason on the road this Sunday when they visit the Green Bay Packers.
The 49ers are the only road favorite on Wild Card Weekend in the NFL, going off at -2.5 currently at most sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
Despite the fact that the 49ers finished the regular season with four more wins than the Packers, San Francisco is on the road in this one after finishing behind Seattle in the NFC West division race. Fortunately for San Francisco backers, going on the road hasn’t bothered the 49ers this season.
San Francisco is 6-1 SU and 6-0-1 ATS in its last seven games on the road, including an impressive outright upset over Arizona on Sunday. The 49ers finished third in the NFL in scoring defense allowing just 17 points per game, and the computer likes them to win and cover here.
The Green Bay Packers appeared to be down and out after going 0-4-1 SU and 0-5 ATS in the five games immediately following quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ injury. But with Chicago and Detroit also struggling in the second half of the season, Green Bay was able to stay in the hunt.
They snuck into the playoffs with a 3-1 SU finish to the season that included Aaron Rodgers’ return to action in a 33-28 win over Chicago last week. The Packers are 5-0 SU and ATS over the last five full games Rodgers has played.
“Green Bay’s story as an underdog is different with Rodgers under centre, as the Pack are 5-1 ATS as a home dog with Rodgers playing,” said Jack Randall of OddsShark.com. “But overall, the Pack is 1-7 ATS in its past eight games as a dog, much of that negative trend coming during his seven-week injury absence this year.”
San Francisco is 3-0 SU and ATS over its last three games against the Packers, including last year’s 45-31 win that still stands as the most memorable game in Colin Kaepernick’s young career. Each of the last six games between these two teams have gone OVER the total with over 60 points scored in each of the last two.
Green Bay’s defense has failed to contain Kaepernick both times the Packers have met the 49ers with him under center. The key to this game will likely be Green Bay’s offense, and whether or not it can turn this game into a shootout.
If fireworks fly on offense, this one could end up going either way.
Green Bay vs San Francisco trends: (Wild Card trends on every game)
Teams have played six straight OVERs since 2006
49ers are just 1-8 SU at Green Bay since 1996
49ers are 10-3-1 ATS past 14 road games
49ers are 8-1 SU and ATS past nine games as road chalk
Packers are 1-7 ATS past eight games as underdogs
Packers are 5-1 ATS as home dog with Rodgers as QB
Packers are 5-2 ATS past seven playoff games
49ers lost five of past six playoff road games SU
NFC Wild Card computer prediction: 30-21 San Francisco
