2005 Green Bay Packers NFL Handicapping Review Part 1
By Tom Wilkinson
After their Monday Night debacle in which they were
humiliated 27-48 as 3-point home chalks to Tennessee, the
Green Bay Packers stood at 1-4 both straight up and against
the sports betting odds and were riding a four game losing
streak. Just as the majority of the general sports betting
public backed the Pack in large numbers for their loss to
Tennessee, the vast majority of the public now, like jilted
lovers, went in heavy opposition to Green Bay for their next
game at Detroit. The upstart Lions were 3-1 and touted as a
NFC North title contender ready to dethrone the Packers.
Detroit was favored by 2.5-points and there were few Packer
backers amongst the sports handicapping community. For the
second consecutive week, the general sports betting public
was embarrassed as Green Bay shocked them all with a
stunning 38-10 win. This began a streak for Green Bay in
which the lost just one game against the sports betting odds
out the next six that they played after the Tennessee loss.
The last victory on that streak was a 45-17 blowout home win
over St. Louis, which made many sports betting players
believe that the Pack was fully back. Green Bay stood at 7-4
straight up, with six consecutive straight up wins and was
set to take off for Philadelphia and a marquee matchup with
the Eagles.
This was a rematch of the playoff heartbreaker from 2003 in
which Green Bay had the game in hand late, only to punt away
the ball on a fourth and inches inside Philadelphia
territory and then let the Eagles out of the noose by
blowing coverage on a 4th and 26 play that will live forever
in the annals of Green Bay fans. Many online sports betting
blogs talked up the Pack and their lust for revenge of that
defeat. Others said that Green Bay would top the list of
their football picks because of their momentum, and
quarterback Brett Favre’s hot hand. Incredibly, many in the
sports handicapping community ignored the fact that
Philadelphia was 10-1 and an NFC title contender. Many
sports betting players expected a tight game but the Eagles
blew out the Pack 47-17 as 6-point chalks.
This was the beginning of the end for Green Bay. The loss at
Philadelphia started a 2-4 skid against the sports betting
odds. But there was one final surprise. In their home
playoff game against Minnesota, a team that they dominate at
Lambeau, the Packers were defeated 17-31 as 6.5-point
chalks, giving one last shock to sports betting players in
2004.
Use of this information in violation of any federal,
state or local laws is prohibited. © 2003
Legal Sports Betting
- All Rights Reserved