NFL. Regular Season. Week 3.
Stadium: Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara)
The NFL Sunday Night Football will see the San Francisco 49ers take on the Green Bay Packers at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. Who will be stronger in this fascinating encounter? There are several options for you to bet on.
San Francisco only made small changes
Against all the odds, San Francisco decided not to change their quarterback and entered the new season with Jimmy Garoppolo. So, progress in the 49ers’ offense is unlikely. Garoppolo is surely an incredible quality playmaker, but incapable to act at key moments of the season. There has been plenty of proof, including last year's Super Bowl. Garoppolo isn’t someone who can get the 49ers far forward.
In two starting games, Jimmy Garoppolo has had 503 passing yards and 2 wins, with only 2 touchdowns. San Francisco literally outgunned the Detroit Lions 41-33 in Week 1 and handled Philadelphia 17-11 in a hard-fought second week. Both of San Francisco's opening league games were played away. The upcoming match with the Green Bay Packers is the first game at home.
While the quarterback is the same, there have been changes in the coaching staff. Kyle Shanahan at the head and Mike McDaniel as the offensive coordinator have kept their positions. DeMeco Ryans, a former linebacker, will be the defensive coordinator for the new season. One of the main creators of the team's success in recent seasons, former defensive coordinator Robert Saleh has gone to improve the New York Gets.
It took Green Bay a while to roll into the season
The Packers blew their season opener, losing to New Orleans 3-38 on the road. The second game wasn't an easy one either: Green Bay hosted the Detroit Lions. The score of 14-17 in the first half was clearly not what the Packers' fans, who had filled the stands at Lambeau Field, had been expecting. Maybe the shock of their impending disaster sobered the players up so badly that they routed the Lions in the second half 21-0, and 35-17 in total. Have Aaron Rodgers and the team rolled into the season? The 37-year-old quarterback himself had 4 touchdowns and no interceptions in the game against Detroit.
Like San Francisco, Green Bay has a new defensive coordinator. Mike Pettine left for the Chicago Bears and was replaced by Joe Barry, who spent the last few seasons as an assistant head coach of the Los Angeles Rams. Otherwise, the main actors are the same - head coach Matt LaFleur and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.
Injuries and suspensions
- San Francisco: JaMycal Hasty (RB), Kevin Givens (DT) are out. Elijah Mitchell (RB), Emmanuel Moseley (CB), Josh Norman (CB) – questionable.
- Green Bay: Josiah Deguara (TE), Vernon Scott (S) – questionable.
Head-to-head encounters
Last season, Green Bay beat San Francisco by 17 points away.
Expert Betting Tips
It's strange that the bookmakers believe so much in the San Francisco side. Frankly, by all accounts and on all lines, Green Bay is simply stronger. Perhaps the only factor that speaks in the 49ers' favor is the extra day of rest. But it’s not going to change very much, to my mind.
Prediction: Green Bay to win.
Betting options:
- Handicap Green Bay (+3.5) for 1.73;
- Green Bay To Win for 2.40;
- Individual Total 2 Over (23.5) for 1.81.