NFL Betting :
Shorthanded Cardinals Won’t Slow Down Packers

Green Bay Packers @ Arizona Cardinals
Football : United States : NFL
Sunday 10th January 2010 - Kickoff 5:40pm ET

---

Bookmaker Line: PK

---

Three of the matchups we saw in Week 17 will be replayed in the first round of the NFL playoffs and one of them will be the Green Bay Packers-Arizona Cardinals matchup.

The Cardinals rested their starters last week and showed no interest in winning the game, which led to a 33-7 Packers win. People making their NFL predictions may have a tough time picking against the Packers this week as they came out of the game much healthier than the Cardinals and they didn’t purposely rest anyone.

Arizona suffered a number of key injuries in Week 17 and at the top of that list is the loss of wideout Anquan Boldin. He is highly questionable to play this weekend after spraining his ankle and knee last Sunday and the Cardinals will miss him if he can’t play. While the Cardinals lost one of their best outside weapons on offense, they also lost one of their best outside weapons on defense.

NFL odds makers know that Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is the Cardinals best cover corner and he also suffered a leg injury in Week 17. He is more likely to play but he will also be hampered.

The injuries are piling up and it may be too much for the Cardinals to overcome against a hot Packers team.

The Green Bay Packers have been one of the hottest teams in the NFL down the stretch of the season but they don’t get much credit for it. They won seven of their last eight with their only loss coming to the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field.

This is a team that finished third overall in total defense, first overall in interceptions, run defense and turnover ratio. Quite clearly, they do many things well and are much more than just a passing outfit that they are credited as.

The Betting Verdict

They Packers several advantages in this game except for home field advantage and experience. If those are a factor in this contest and the Packers are nervous, they’ll likely get off their game, cough up the football and lose.

But the Packers have shown that they are a very confident group and they have already won in Arizona. Doing it a second time – even if the Cardinals are trying this time – will be easier because the Packers know they have the better team.

The Cardinals are too banged up to hang around unless the Packers make mistakes.

The Statistics :

The Pick :

Packers 21, Cardinals 16

HANDICAP BETTING :

Take the GREEN BAY Packers to win the game on the ML