Tom Brady might be suspended for the first four games of the regular season, but you can bet that he'll get a huge ovation when he steps onto the field in front of the Gillette Stadium faithful for the New England Patriots against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The second-highest total of the week belongs to this game, but much of that is the thought that two future Hall of Fame quarterbacks will each be able to put a score on the board. The total is set at a high 39.
The Pats are favored by three, the value of home field advantage.
QUARTERBACK ROTATION
Brady didn't play in the first preseason game last year, but you have to think that Bill Belichick, the league's ultimate troll, wants to put his future Hall of Famer on display in this one. Of course, we'll see plenty of Jimmy Garoppolo as well as he prepares for life as a starting quarterback in the first month of the regular season.
Newly acquired Matt Flynn should play some as well, but we would expect to see Garoppolo for at least two full quarters, if not three in this one.
History will tell you that Aaron Rodgers won't be on the field long in this one, if he even plays at all. The Packers have no need to throw him out there, and they'll get a lot more out of seeing Scott Tolzien, Matt Blanchard and rookie Brett Hundley instead as these three duel for the backup job.
COACHES' MOTIVATION
The big tell here for Mike McCarthy. In his nine years at the helm in Green Bay, the Packers are just 2-7 in their first preseason games, going just 2-6-1 ATS in those clashes.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"We're not counting throws all the time, and it's not a concern as it will be when he's later in his career. I mean, he's still very physically fit and so I don't feel like I need to protect him because of any type of elbow or shoulder issue, thing like that. But we're going to be smart and work through it, communicate and see where he's at every day." – Packers head coach Mike McCarthy on Aaron Rodgers and his nagging injuries in training camp
POSITION BATTLE TO WATCH
The Patriots have to get some of their offensive line problems figured out. Tre' Jackson is a rookie projected to start at left guard, while Shaquille Mason and David Andrews both try to find their way into some playing time. With starting right guard Ryan Wendell currently on the PUP list, there is going to be a lot of playing time available.
Expect to see very vanilla line play out of the Pats until they get a little more comfortable this preseason.
INJURIES
Expect to see Dont'a Hightower kept out of this one for New England with a shoulder injury. Clay Mathews might also sit for Green Bay with a mild knee problem. The other big names in this game are all expected to at least make an appearance, though none of the vets should be around very long.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The over is fools' gold as we see it in this one even though Belichick and McCarthy have combined to go 74-43 in their preseason careers for over bettors.
The Packers have a lot of backup quarterback problems right now, and they shouldn't be able to move the ball all that well against a very deep New England defense.
Our only worry is Brady playing three or four drives just so Belichick can prove that he can run an offense with a properly inflated football, but in the event that doesn't happen, the under should be a great play.
New England 19, Green Bay 10
The NFL odds for this Thursday contest were first released by BookMaker, and the New England Patriots were position as 3-point favorites with a total of 39. Now you can wager in-game while the action unfolds with BookMaker's live betting option.
Need to fund your account before the big game but don't have your computer? No problem! BookMaker Sportsbook now offers a mobile betting cashier so you can deposit money directly from your smartphone. Don't miss out on getting paid because you couldn't bet. Click here and deposit at BookMaker now! The Week 1 matchup between the Green Bay Packers and the New England Patriots is set for Thursday, August 13, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA. The contest will be broadcast on WBZ and NBC 4.
