DraftKings

NFL opening lines for Week 8: Packers named underdogs vs Cardinals on Thursday

A game that should decide playoff seeding is projected to be close.

By justis.mosqueda Oct 24, 2021, 7:48pm CDT

Washington Football Team v Green Bay Packers

Per DraftKings, the Green Bay Packers have opened as 3.5-point underdogs against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 8, according to DraftKings sportsbook. The Thursday Night Football matchup marks only the second time that the Packers have been underdogs this year, with the first being their Week 3 game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara. They also opened as 3.5-point dogs that week and won the game outright by a score of 30-28, by way of a last-second field goal by kicker Mason Crosby.

Overall, the Packers have done well as underdogs under head coach Matt LaFleur. In total, the team has gone 6-3 straight up when they have been the betting-favorite to lose in a matchup while also matching that 6-3 record against the spread. The team has posted a 15-5 record on the road since LaFleur took over the team in 2019.

The game also features a total of 54, the highest bar for any game of the week. On paper, this game projects to be a 29-25-ish win for the Cardinals. The implied probability of the Packers’ +160 money line suggests that Green Bay has a 38 percent chance to win the game outright.