The Packers and 49ers have some new talent to watch in a real game situation, and each side will want to see how those pieces mesh together. There are also returning players taking on new leading roles, and both teams would like to know if they can rely on them for success this season. With that, let’s dive into the Packers vs. 49ers predictions for this NFL Preseason Week 1 contest.
Packers vs. 49ers Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Packers | +2.5 (-110) | +125 | O 33 (-110) |
| @ 49ers | -2.5 (-110) | -150 | U 33 (-110) |
Odds via Fliff Sportsbook as of 8 a.m. ET on Aug 12.
Game Info
- Date: Friday, August 12
- Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, CA)
- TV: NFL Network
Note: View the full NFL Preseason TV schedule and 7 games worth watching here.
How Much Love Will Jordan Get?
Jordan Love will get the starting nod as Green Bay QB, as the Packers announced Aaron Rodgers will hold the clipboard for this first preseason game.
Love, a former first-round pick, should play a significant portion of this contest. He has in-game experience with this offensive scheme, and we’ve seen flashes of his upside. It will be interesting to see how well he orchestrates the offense on Friday evening.
How Will The New Receiving Corps Play?
The big thing we’ll look at in this first game, even though they won’t have the ball thrown to them by Rodgers, is how the Packers’ new receiving corps will play.
Allen Lazard is listed as the leading receiver on the depth chart, and the team will try to find a way to fill the void of All-Pro WR Davante Adams.
We will likely not see rookie WR Christian Watson suit up as he rehabs from a knee injury, but WR Romeo Dobbs will get his first taste of the NFL. The decision to not give Rodgers wide receiver help early in the draft was questioned, and that was even more polarized when the Packers traded Adams not long after. There have been some positive reports from camp, and it will be interesting to see how well this strategy translates in an actual game situation.
“I will say, between 88 and 87, there’s been a lot of positive things that make you feel good about the depth we could have in that (WR) room.”
Aaron Rodgers on Juwann Winfree and Romeo Doubs 👀 #Packers pic.twitter.com/g315p1HcjB
— packers clips (@packers_clips) August 9, 2022
We should also see how new veteran additions Sammy Watkins and Amari Rodgers fit in this offense.
Trey Lance Begins His Reign As Starter
The bigger scope will be on 49ers’ quarterback Trey Lance as he will start his sophomore season as QB1. The baton has been passed to Lance as the team has moved away from Jimmy Garoppolo, and with no other real option, they will rely on him to lead a team that was one quarter away from winning it all a few years ago.
Brandon Aiyuk posted a workout with Trey Lance on his Instagram.
The caption: “The only three throws from the day, his arm got fatigued after that…” 😂 pic.twitter.com/69sFPVql0D
— Fantasy Life (@MBFantasyLife) July 13, 2022
We should also expect to see former Eagles and current 49ers backup QB Nate Sudfield get the second-team reps after Lance, followed by rookie (and 2022 Mr. Irrelevant) Brock Purdy to finish the game.
How Will The 49ers’ Backfield Playout?
The run game has always been a tough one to figure out in Kyle Shanahan’s offense. He seems to have a new favorite rusher almost every week, as the bell cow of the backfield changes frequently.
As of now, Elijah Mitchell is listed as the leading running back as he’s been getting most of the first-team reps. Even with the departure of Raheem Mostert, the team is not short on experience in the backfield — Jeff Wilson Jr., Trey Sermon, and JaMycal Hasty have seen significant carries at one point in the offense, and it will be interesting how they’ll divide the snaps.
Packers vs. 49ers Predictions
Under 33 total points will be your best play for this game, as we won’t see the starters on each side for more than a series or two. Traditionally, the first preseason game tends to be on the lower side as the teams try things out and build chemistry.
Prediction 1: Under 33 | -110 at Fliff Sportsbook
If you want to back a team, I like the Packers at +2.5. I think we’re going to see more of Love and the first unit in this game than Lance and the 49er starters. On top of that, Love and the Packers have way more to prove/evaluate in this game than the 49ers.
Prediction 2: Packers +2.5 | -110 at Fliff Sportsbook
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