Green Bay Packers 2010 NFL Preview, Odds, and Predictions: The Packers season ended in disappointment with a shootout in the dessert falling in OT to the Arizona Cardinals 51-45 as quarterback Aaron Rodgers was sacked by a blitz and the ball got knocked loose and hit off Rodgers’ foot and into the arms of linebacker Karlos Dansby, who ran it into the end zone for the game-clinching touchdown dropping head football coach Mike McCarthy to his knees! This year they have higher hopes. “I think we’ve got a pretty good team,” says Packers general manager Ted Thompson. “We have to play well; we’re not the kind of team that can just throw our helmets out there and win the game. But when we play well, we’re pretty good.” Vegas odds makers have the Green Bay Packers as +750 odds to win the 2011 Super Bowl.
Coach McCarthy heads into his fifth season with a solid staff and talented team. He calls the plays offensively even though Joe Philbin is the offensive coordinator. Last season he brought in Dom Capers as defensive coordinator who did a good job with the run defense but needs to improve against the pass. That couldn’t be more apparent than in the loss to Arizona. The odds makers at Diamond Sportsbook have the Green Bay Packers listed at +450 odds to win the 2010 NFC Championship.
Offensively Rodgers was selected to the Pro Bowl in his second year as a starter while accumulating terrific stats connecting on 64.7 percent of his passes for 4,434 yards, 30 touchdowns and seven interceptions for a tremendous passer rating of 103.2. Additionally, running back Ryan Grant ran the ball 282 times for 1,253 yards (4.4-yard average) and 11 touchdowns. Wide receivers Greg Jennings and Donald Driver both had over 1,000 yards receiving as well. A pretty balanced attack for a pass first offense. The Vegas odds makers have the Green Bay Packers listed at -150 odds to win the 2010 NFC North for preseason 2010 NFL Betting.
Defensively outside linebacker Clay Matthews, who earned a trip to the Pro Bowl with a fabulous rookie season and cornerback Charles Woodson was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. They anchored a defense that led the NFL in interceptions (30), takeaways (40) and turnover margin (plus-24). The pass defense took a hit with the injury to cornerback Al Harris, a two-time Pro Bowler, was lost for the season to a torn ACL. His return to health should help shore up the pass coverage in 2010. The odds makers at Diamond Sportsbook have the Green Bay Packers middle number listed at over/under 10 wins for the 2010 NFL regular season.
The Pack have the players, coaches, and ability to go deep in the playoffs, but their one time hero will stand in the way. Bret Favre will return to the Minnesota Vikings and this time lead them to the Super Bowl rendering the Packers back in a wait and see mode. Green Bay will go 11-5 for my 2010 NFL Season Predictions and get a wildcard berth in the playoffs but finish second in the AFC North.
2010 Green Bay Packers Preseason Schedule
1 Sat, Aug 14 vs Cleveland
2 Sat, Aug 21 @ Seattle 10:00 PM
3 Thu, Aug 26 vs Indianapolis 8:00 PM ESPN
4 Thu, Sep 2 @ Kansas City 8:00 PM
2010 Green Bay Packers Regular Season Schedule
WK DATE OPPONENT TIME (ET)
1 Sun, Sep 12 @ Philadelphia 4:15 PM FOX
2 Sun, Sep 19 vs Buffalo 1:00 PM CBS
3 Mon, Sep 27 @ Chicago 8:30 PM
4 Sun, Oct 3 vs Detroit 1:00 PM FOX ESPN
5 Sun, Oct 10 @ Washington 1:00 PM FOX
6 Sun, Oct 17 vs Miami 1:00 PM CBS
7 Sun, Oct 24 vs Minnesota 8:20 PM NBC
8 Sun, Oct 31 @ New York 1:00 PM FOX
9 Sun, Nov 7 vs Dallas 8:20 PM NBC
10 BYE WEEK
11 Sun, Nov 21 @ Minnesota 1:00 PM FOX
12 Sun, Nov 28 @ Atlanta 1:00 PM FOX
13 Sun, Dec 5 vs San Francisco 1:00 PM FOX
14 Sun, Dec 12 @ Detroit 1:00 PM FOX
15 Sun, Dec 19 @ New England 8:20 PM NBC
16 Sun, Dec 26 vs New York 4:15 PM FOX
17 Sun, Jan 2 vs Chicago 1:00 PM FOX