Patriots vs. Packers Point Spread: NFL Pre-Season Week 2 Odds, Prediction
The Packers kicked off their August schedule in impressive fashion last week, as they rolled to a decisive 36-19 win in Cincinnati, but have won and covered in just four of 19 preseason contests since August 2018. The Patriots travel to Lambeau Field on the rebound after dropping a disappointing 20-9 decision last week to the visiting Houston Texans. The Patriots have now lost three of their past four preseason contests, and have failed to produce a scoring pass in three straight August contests.
The Packers are pegged as slim 2.5-point home favourites in Saturday’s contest. The Patriots lag as +125 moneyline underdogs on the NFL preseason Week 2 odds, and the total is listed at 37.0.
NFL Pre-season Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Saturday night’s matchup marks the first preseason clash between these squads since 2015. The Patriots earned a 22-11 win when they last faced New England in August to improve to 3-1 in four low-scoring contests. Overall, the Packers have held the Pats to 11 or fewer points on three occasions over their four previous preseason dates, but have also managed to score just 10 total points in their two most recent August clashes at Lambeau Field.
New England Patriots
The big question that New England fans are asking is whether newly signed running back Ezekiel Elliott will make his Patriots debut on Saturday night. The Patriots could certainly use the help in the backfield. The New England ground game ranked 24th in the NFL last season, and Patriots rushers generated just 78 total yards in last week’s loss to Houston, with rookie quarterback Malik Cunningham’s nine-yard scoring run in garbage time representing the lone highlight on the night.
Equally uncertain is whether starting quarterback Mac Jones will see action on Saturday. Jones has been dominant in joint practice this week, but it was Bailey Zappe who saw the most action under center last week, going 12-for-14 for 79 yards and no scores.
Green Bay Packers
Poised to inherit the job as Packers starting quarterback following the offseason departure of veteran Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love saw his first preseason action last week. Love guided the Green Bay offence on its first two drives of the game, going 7-for-10 for 46 yards and one touchdown before turning over the ball to Sean Clifford. Selected in the fifth round of this year’s NFL Draft, Clifford enjoyed a long audition, tossing for 208 yards and one score, and adding 27 rushing yards on two carries. Clifford is currently in a pitched battle with former USFL MVP Alex McGough for the backup job, and considering the struggles the Packers offence faced in joint practice, it would be no surprise to see both Clifford and McGough get more playing time.
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