Before we dive into this week's gambling preview, let's take a minute to dissect what happened in last week's Monday Night Football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Las Vegas Raiders. We had everything going in our favor, the under (50.5 total points scored) was cruising as there were only 27 total points scored heading into the fourth quarter.
Then, in a blink of an eye, the game is knotted up and heading into overtime as the Raiders hit a clutch 56-yard game tying field goal with 3 seconds remaining. That's the cruel thing about gambling, sometimes everything can be going as planned and the next second, boom, you're sweating it out on the couch at 10:30 pm on a Monday. Shit happens. Do you roll over a quit because of one bad beat? Not me, I do some extra research and work even harder to be better. Now, let's talk about tonight's game and make some money, people.
Monday Night Football Week 1, with odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook:
Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers
Line: Green Bay Packers (-11.5)
O/U: 48.5
Gut Feeling: I cannot see a scenario where I voluntarily bet against Aaron Rodgers. Yes, before all of you guys ask, I did watch the Packers get blown out by Jameis Winston and the stout New Orleans Saints defense by 35 points, and that's okay by me. Sometimes you have to simply throw away the game tape, and pretend it never happened.
I think that's what Coach LaFleur's message to the team will be.
Aaron Rodgers' message to the team? Well, I think we've heard that one before. and that's to relax.
Let's not forget, this Green Bay team is one fourth down conversion away from potentially defeating the Bucs in the NFC Championship game and making the Super Bowl last year. I know they have some offensive line problems and Rodgers hasn't had a lot of reps with the team because of his drama-filled offseason. But he's Aaron freakin' Rodgers in Lambeau. I'm riding with the reigning NFL MVP.
Especially when he's against a Detroit Lions team that just gave up 41 points in essentially three quarters against San Francisco.
By the Numbers:
--> The Green Bay Packers are 8-0 SU in their last eight season openers at Lambeau.
-->Aaron Rodgers following a loss is ATS 44-23-1
-->However, the Detroit Lions are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games against the Packers.
I'm wearing my heart on my sleeve, and rocking with the "manalytics" over analytics.
Official pick: Green Bay -11.5