A pair of NFC contenders will kick off their preseason roster when the Green Bay Packers take on the San Francisco 49ers on Friday. The Week 1 game of the 2022 NFL preseason will be a rematch of their playoff split game last year, which saw the 49ers rally for a 13-10 victory in the dying seconds. Aaron Rodgers will spend this one in Green Bay and could skip the entire preseason as he has for the past few years. Jordan Love will start for the Packers, who will rely primarily on their backups. The 49ers, meanwhile, are expected to start Trey Lance at quarterback as well as their entire starting offense. It will be the first preseason meeting between the teams since 2016, when the Packers beat the host 49ers 21-10.
Kickoff from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET. San Francisco is a 2.5 point favorite in the latest Packers vs. 49ers odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total runs scored is 33. Before making Packers vs. 49ers bets or predictions, ensure You check out what SportsLine’s top-rated NFL expert RJ White has to say.
Over the past seven years, White, a CBS Sports fantasy and gaming editor, has scored 329-250-21 (56.8%) in the world’s most prestigious soccer handicapping competition, the Las Vegas SuperContest. Vegas. He’s also SportsLine’s No. 1 NFL expert, going 445-378-24 on his 2017-21 NFL picks against the spread, netting $2,542 for $100 players.
Additionally, White is 50-17-1 on his last 68 ATS picks involving the Packers. Everyone who followed him is upstairs.
Now White has focused on the Packers vs. 49ers and has just locked down his NFL picks and predictions. You can head over to SportsLine now to see its picks and analysis. Here are the NFL odds and betting lines for the Packers vs. 49ers:
- Gap Packers vs. 49ers: San Francisco -2.5
- Packers vs. 49ers over-under: 33 points
- Money line Packers vs. 49ers: Green Bay +125, San Francisco -145
- GB: The Packers went 0-3 last preseason and were outscored 68-21
- SF: 49ers were 2-1 in the 2021 preseason, going 1-1 at home
- Packers vs. 49ers picks: See the picks here.
Featured game | San Francisco 49ers vs. Green Bay Packers
Why the 49ers can cover
Unlike the Packers, San Francisco will see its starting unit, at least for a few series. That includes quarterback Trey Lance, who played in six regular season games in 2021. Lance completed 41 of 71 (57.7%) passes for 603 yards and five touchdowns with just two interceptions. He also carried 38 times for 168 yards (4.4 average) and scoring. Lance played in all three preseason games a year ago, throwing for three touchdowns and throwing for 276 yards.
The 49ers tight ends group, which recently lost veteran Jordan Matthews for the year with a torn ACL, will also get a good look. That means Tyler Kroft and Ross Dwelley should see plenty of action behind first stringer George Kittle. Kroft has 101 career receptions for 1,024 yards (10.1 average) and 13 touchdowns, while Dwelley has 40 career catches for 401 yards and four scores. He caught just four regular-season passes in 2021 for 51 yards and a touchdown.
Why the Packers can cover
Jordan Love has been drafted to be Green Bay’s quarterback of the future and will need to continue to show signs that he can do it. After the preseason slate was completely wiped from his rookie season, he made two starts in 2021, showing flashes. He was 24 of 35 for 271 yards and a touchdown. He was also shot once. Love also started a regular season game when Rodgers had to sit out for COVID-19, a 13-7 loss at Kansas City. After a slow start, Love completed 19 of 34 passes for 190 yards and a touchdown. For the season, Love finished 36 of 62 (58.1%) for 411 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.
With the departure of No. 1 receiver Davante Adams this offseason, the Packers will look to take a look at their wide receiver depth. Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb return, and the team signed veteran Sammy Watkins. Lazard was the team’s second-leading receiver with 40 catches for 513 yards (12.8 average) and eight touchdowns. While second-round draft pick Christian Watson was ruled out with injury, fourth-round draft pick Romeo Doubs of Nevada turned heads in camp and will also have a number of opportunities against San Francisco. The Doubs had 225 college career receptions for 3,322 yards (14.8 average) and 26 touchdowns.
How to make Packers vs 49ers picks
For Friday’s NFL preseason game, White is leaning under, but he also says a critical X-factor makes one side of the gap a must. You can find out what it is and see all of White’s NFL picks and analysis on SportsLine.
Who wins the Packers against the 49ers on Friday? And what critical X-factor makes one side of the spread unavoidable? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Packers vs. 49ers spread you should jump to, all from the expert who has netted well over $3,000 to $100 from players in Green Bay’s last 68 games, and find out -the.
