Green Bay Packers vs. Seattle Seahawks: Betting, odds, preview and pick

Over the last 20 years the Super Bowl winner from the season before is 18-2 SU in its season opener.

The Seattle Seahawks are favored to add another win to that record as a 5.5-point favorite at home against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night.

Green Bay could be one of the NFC’s best teams this season if Aaron Rodgers stays healthy, and it is difficult to pass up on 5.5 points. But Seattle is the league’s best team and owns the best home field in the NFL, making them the pick at -5.5 in their home opener.

Odds Shark Computer Prediction: 33-21 Seattle

Seattle’s defense was impenetrable in 2013, leading the NFL with the lowest total yards surrendered with 273.6 per game and scoring defense allowing only 14.4 points per game.

The Seahawks are tough to play against regardless of the venue, but they take their game to another level at home, where they are 17-1 SU and 13-5 ATS over their last 18 games. Seattle is 4-0 SU and ATS over its last four Week 1 home openers.

Green Bay is just 1-5 SU and ATS over its last six games as a road underdog. Since 2012, the Packers are 2-5 SU and 2-4-1 ATS against NFC West opponents.

Perhaps the biggest concern coming into this game for the Packers is Seattle’s running game; Green Bay finished 25^th in the league last season in rushing defense, and could have its share of trouble trying to contain Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch.

The Packers’ bread and butter is in the passing game, which plays right into the hands of the Seattle Seahawks defense. Seattle had the best passing defense in the NFL last season allowing only 172 passing yards per game.

Aaron Rodgers is one of the best quarterbacks in the league at avoiding turnovers, but he won’t have much open space to throw into against this smothering defense.

This Thursday night matchup could end up being the best game of the week, and could serve as a playoff preview for a big game down the road. But in Seattle, the pick has to be Seattle -5.5.