New York Giants vs. Green Bay Packers NFC Wild Card Round Predictions, Odds, Picks and NFL Betting Preview – January 8, 2017

New York Giants vs. Green Bay Packers Preview

Where: Lambeau Field – Green Bay, WI

When: Sunday, January 8, 2017 – 4:40 PM ET

Line: New York Giants (+5) vs. Green Bay Packers (-5); total: 44.5 – view all NFL lines

TV Broadcast: FOX

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2017 NFL Week 4 Picks and Predictions

Betting on the New York Giants (+5)

The Giants are finally back in the playoffs after a four-year absence. They ended up with an 11-5 record (8-2 in their last 10) and earned the fifth seed in the NFC.

Despite having the offense-minded Ben McAdoo as head coach, who actually helped in making Aaron Rodgers become the elite QB that he is today, it’s the defense that has shined more this season. The stop unit has compiled 21 takeaways since Week 7, one of the most during the span.

In addition, the team also finished the year only giving up 17.8 PPG, which is second-fewest in the NFL (only the Patriots’ 15.6 average was fewer). Further, in three of their last four contests, the G-Men held opponents into scoring 10 points or less.

With the defense stepping up in the mid point of the season, the team jumped from being one of the worst in producing sacks and picks into ranking 15th and seventh in the category, respectively.

For the offense, Eli Manning and his receiving corps will be bringing in numbers of 251.7  YPG and 26 touchdowns. With the Packers giving up the second-most yards through the air, McAdoo and his staff may want to feature the passing game more, especially since their ground attack only gets 3.5 yards per carry.

The Giants are 4-4 SU on the road this season (3-3-2 ATS).

Betting on the Green Bay Packers (-5)

The Packers finished the season with a loud splash, as they won their last six games to capture the NFC North division for the fifth time in six years. It was a great recovery from the mediocre 4-6 record they had following Week 11, wherein the majority had already written them off.

True to his “Relax” phrase from a couple of seasons back, Aaron Rodgers suddenly went insane in the last seven weeks, compiling an 18-0 TD-INT ratio and throwing for 288 YPG, while also completing 70 percent of his passes. He ended up with 40 passing TDs, the second time he has achieved the feat in his career. The production lifted the Pack to fourth in the league in scoring (27 PPG).

The QB should be as productive for the upcoming wild card game, especially since running the ball isn’t exactly their forte (106.3 YPG, 20th overall) and they are going up against a great ground defense.

Expect Rodgers target his long list of reliable receivers, particularly Jordy Nelson – who had a great comeback year from his ACL injury – and Davante Adams, with the two wideouts combining for 26 TD grabs in the regular season.

As for the defense, containing yardage through the air is what they have to be careful about, as they gave up the second-most passing yards in the league (4,308 total, 269.2 per game). Manning, Odell Beckham, and the Giants’ entire passing game could be looking to exploit that.

The Packers are 6-2 at home this season (5-2-1 ATS).

Writer’s Prediction

The Packers (-5) win, 23-21.

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