To get you suited up for football’s glorious start tonight, we’ve gone beyond just our comprehensive betting preview and prediction and prepared our picks for the extensive prop bets available on tonight’s NFL kick off. This should be an outstanding game, and grabbing a little action on some of these wilder lines might be just the boost you need.
[sc:Football ]Five Prop Bet Picks for Packers vs. Seahawks
Team to Score First
Line: Packers +130, Seahawks -160
[sc:NFL240banner ]The Packers are going to be a more potent team on offense this season than they were in 2013. But then again, the Seahawks showed how to handle such teams when their defense blew the Denver Broncos’ historically-great offense out of the water in Super Bowl XLVIII.
Seattle’s front seven this season, however, is without the likes of Red Bryant and Chris Clemons, who were both key figures in the defensive line last season. There might be some early season jitters for the Seahawks’ slightly revamped front seven, and that should be something for fans and bettors alike to keep an eye on early in the game.
Green Bay could just as likely jump out on that and grab a long Mason Crosby field goal for the first score of the game as Seattle could, so grab the value at +130.
Writer’s prediction: The Packers (+130) score first.
First Official Play from Line of Scrimmage
Line: Run play -135, pass play or sack +105
A healthy and upright Percy Harvin will add dynamism to the Seahawks’ offense, but Pete Carroll’s team has always been more likely to run than throw the ball. After all, the Seahawks had an NFL-best mark of 52.71 rushing play percentage with 31.8 rushing attempts per game in 2013. For their part, Green Bay’s backfield isn’t too shabby either with the Eddie Lacy-led attack that ate 43.17% of the team’s offensive plays also last season.
Seattle is a rushing team. Marshawn Lynch sure is going to get his touches (403 in 2013) early. Russell Wilson has legs. Eddie Lacy, as great as he was last season, will even be better in 2014. With teams eager to make a safe play early, and already pre-disposed to run the ball, look for this first play to be a rush.
Writer’s prediction: The Seahawks, Lynch in particular, will rush the ball (-135) for the game’s first play from the line of scrimmage.
Will a Point Be Scored in the First 6.5 Minutes of the Game?
Line: Yes -140, No +110
Here are two numbers that could help you decide where to side on this prop bet: Green Bay put up just 4.6 points in the first quarter in 2013, while Seattle mustered an even lower average of 4.2. Those are low numbers by comparison to other teams, with both figures ranking 16th and 21st overall, respectively.
Writer’s prediction: No (+110). The game will still be tied, 0-0, six and a half minutes into the game.
Create a betting account now and get your bets down on the NFL’s opener before the season kicks off tonight.
What Will Happen First? Touchdown or Field Goal?
Line: Touchdown -175, Field Goal +145
How Aaron Rodgers will command the passing offense against the Seahawks’ Legion of Boom is compelling. Rodgers should pose a big threat for Richard Sherman and crew but playing in a loud place like CenturyLink Field has its benefits for the Seahawks. The arena is one hell of a loud place to play football. The decibel level will likely go at least one notch higher, especially early in the game, given the anticipation around not only this rematch but the new NFL season as a whole.
The Seahawks’ defense will feed off the stadium’s energy early on for sure, and what we’re seeing is that Rodgers, along with the Packers’ running backs, will take some time if they are to get past through the Seahawks’ defense.
Writer’s prediction: We’re sticking with our prediction of the Packers’ scoring first and it’s going to come from a successful field goal attempt (+145).
How Will the Game’s First Point Be Scored?
Line: 11 options, see full list here.
It’s tempting to lay a $5 bet on any of the two teams getting their first score of the game from a safety, as picking either team to do so comes with a +5,000 price. Safeties don’t happen often, but when they do, they’re often when you least expect them. This guy can vouch for that for sure.
However, it’s better to do away with selections that come with long odds and instead focus on the possibility of a touchdown/field goals as the manner of how the first score in this game will be generated.
Writer’s prediction: As we said above, the early phase of this match will be testy for both teams. The safe bet would be on an FG to be the first to put points on the board. The odds for Green Bay to do so is +350. For the Seahawks, it’s +300. Take either for the safe option, or dig in on a wild safety pick.
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