The Green Bay Packers will get their first look at life without No. 1 wide receiver Davante Adams when they battle the San Francisco 49ers in a preseason opener on Friday in Santa Clara, Calif. The Packers also lost their third-best pass catcher, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who left via free agency to the Kansas City Chiefs. Green Bay, however, went wide receiver heavy in the draft and a number of those rookies will get their chance to shine against a potentially-improved San Francisco secondary. The 49ers' biggest signing this offseason was Charvarius Ward, who will anchor the cornerback position opposite Emmanuel Moseley.
Kickoff from Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., is set for 8:30 p.m. ET. San Francisco is a 2.5-point favorite in the latest Packers vs. 49ers odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points scored is 33. Before you make any Packers vs. 49ers bets or predictions, make sure you check out what top-rated SportsLine NFL expert R.J. White has to say.
Over the past seven years White, a CBS Sports fantasy and gambling editor, has gone 329-250-21 (56.8 percent) in the world's most prestigious football handicapping competition, the Las Vegas SuperContest. He also is SportsLine's No. 1 NFL expert, going 445-378-24 on his against-the-spread NFL picks from 2017-21, returning $2,542 to $100 players.
In addition, White is 50-17-1 on his last 68 against-the-spread picks involving the Packers. Anyone who has followed him is way up.
Now, White has zoned in on Packers vs. 49ers and just locked in his NFL picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks and analysis. Here are the NFL odds and betting lines for Packers vs. 49ers:
- Packers vs. 49ers spread: San Francisco -2.5
- Packers vs. 49ers over-under: 33 points
- Packers vs. 49ers money line: Green Bay +125, San Francisco -145
- GB: Packers went 0-3 last preseason and were outscored 68-21
- SF: 49ers were 2-1 in the 2021 preseason, going 1-1 at home
- Packers vs. 49ers picks: See picks here.
Why the 49ers can cover
San Francisco is counting on Lance to be the dynamic leader he was at North Dakota State. Although he played in parts of three seasons, he had his senior year trimmed to just one game due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For his collegiate career, Lance completed 208 of 318 passes (65.4 percent) for 2,947 yards and 30 touchdowns. He was intercepted just once. In six regular-season games for the 49ers in 2021, Lance completed 41 of 71 passes (57.7 percent) for 603 yards, five TDs and two interceptions.
With wide receiver Deebo Samuel and tight end George Kittle set as the team's primary pass catchers, one player who has quietly contributed is wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. He had a solid season in 2021, catching 56 passes, third-best on the team, for 826 yards (14.8 average) and five touchdowns. He was also second on the 49ers with 16 explosive plays of 20 yards or more.
Why the Packers can cover
With quarterback Aaron Rodgers not expected to play much if at all this preseason, Jordan Love gets his chance to show what Green Bay's future holds. After being drafted in the first round in 2020, Love had his first preseason wiped out due to the coronavirus pandemic. Last preseason, he made two starts, passing for 271 yards and one touchdown on 24-of-35 passing. He also threw one interception. During the regular season, Love started one game when Rodgers was sidelined due to COVID-19 and finished the season completing 36-of-62 passes (58.1 percent) for 411 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. He also rushed 12 times for 27 yards.
With Green Bay's second-round pick, Christian Watson, sidelined as he recovers from knee surgery, fourth-round pick Romeo Doubs from Nevada will in all likelihood get a long look against the 49ers. Doubs, one of the pleasant surprises of camp, had 225 career receptions in college for 3,322 yards (14.8 average) and 26 touchdowns. As a senior for the Wolfpack last season, Doubs caught 80 passes for 1,109 yards (13.9 average) and 11 touchdowns. He also scored nine touchdowns and averaged a career-high 17.3 yards per catch in 2020.
How to make Packers vs. 49ers picks
For Friday's NFL preseason game, White is leaning under the total, but he also says a critical X-factor makes one side of the spread a must-back. You can find out what it is and see all of White's NFL picks and analysis at SportsLine.
Who wins Packers vs. 49ers on Friday? And which critical X-factor makes one side of the spread a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Packers vs. 49ers spread you need to jump on, all from the expert who returned well over $3,000 to $100 players in the last 68 Green Bay games, and find out.
