The San Francisco 49ers clobbered the Green Bay Packers twice last season, but they’ll be without several key pieces when the teams square off on Thursday Night Football. The 49ers (4-4) beat Green Bay 37-9 during the regular season and ran all over them in a 37-20 NFC title game victory. But now they are without their starting quarterback, running back, top tight end, main pass-rusher, and top three receivers, among many injured contributors. Still, the defense has kept them in games, and Aaron Rodgers leads the Packers (5-2) into Levi’s Stadium off a 28-22 loss to division rival Minnesota that exposed defensive weaknesses.
Kickoff is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET at Levi’s Stadium. William Hill lists Green Bay as a seven-point favorite in the latest Packers vs. 49ers odds, while the over-under for total points scored is 48.5. Before making any 49ers vs. Packers picks, check out what SportsLine’s resident Green Bay expert, R.J White, has to say.
CBS Sports’ NFL editor, White enters Week 9 as SportsLine’s hottest expert. He’s on a sizzling 27-14 run against the spread that’s returned his followers $1,145. And it’s no surprise, as White twice has cashed huge in the world’s most prestigious football handicapping competition, the Las Vegas SuperContest.
In addition, White has a particularly keen eye for the Packers. In fact, he is an astounding 39-8 in his last 47 spread picks for or against the Packers. Anyone who has followed his NFL picks is way up.
Now, White has looked at Packers vs. Niners from every possible angle. You can head to SportsLine to see his picks. Here are the NFL odds from William Hill and trends for Niners vs. Packers:
- Packers vs. 49ers spread: Green Bay -7
- Packers vs. 49ers over-under: 48.5
- Packers vs. 49ers money line: Green Bay -300, San Francisco +250
- GB: QB Aaron Rodgers has thrown for at least 283 yards in five of the seven games.
- SF: Rookie WR Brandon Aiyuk has 14 catches for 206 yards over the past two games.
Why the Packers can cover
Green Bay is 9-0 against the spread in its last nine after an failing to cover its previous game, and Rodgers can still sling it. He hooked up with wide receiver Davante Adams for three touchdowns in a 28-22 loss to the Vikings last week, and the veteran has thrown for 1,948 yards. He is third in the league with 20 TD passes, with just two interceptions, in his 16th season with Green Bay. Adams is a big play waiting to happen, and he has 502 yards and seven scores on 43 catches in just five games.
Running back could be a major issue if Aaron Jones (calf) can’t return, but Rodgers has led Green Bay to a 5-2 against the spread mark this season, while the emergence of tight end Robert Tonyan (23 catches, five TDs) should continue.
Green Bay will need Za’Darius Smith (six sacks) to get pressure on 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens, and the Packers rank 12th in the league in passing defense (227.6 yards per game).
Why the 49ers can cover
San Francisco is 4-1 against the spread in its last five games as a home underdog, and quarterback Nick Mullens could have a big day against a meager pass rush. Since 2018, Mullens leads all QBs in yards per attempt (9.6) when not pressured, and Green Bay averages 8.0 pressures per game, fewest in the NFL.
It is likely to be up to Jamycal Hasty to carry the running game, and the undrafted rookie has 113 yards (4.4 per carry) over the past three games. The Niners, who are 12-6 against the spread in non-division games since the start of last season, should be able to make Rodgers beat them. The Packers’ run game is banged up, and the San Francisco defense allows just 209 passing yards per game. Fred Warner is the leader of the unit and has two of the team’s eight interceptions.
How to make Packers vs. 49ers picks
White has analyzed this matchup from all sides and he is leaning over on the total. He also has discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread. He’s only sharing it here.
So who wins 49ers vs. Packers on Thursday Night Football? And what critical X-factor makes one side of the spread a must-back? Visit SportsLine right now to find out which side of the Packers vs. 49ers spread you should be all over, all from the expert who’s 39-8 on Green Bay picks, and find out.
