Free Picks: Green Bay Packers vs Los Angeles Rams

The Green Bay Packers are well rested after earning the No. 1 seed in the NFC and the first-round bye, while the Los Angeles Rams are coming off an upset win where their defense suffocated the Seattle Seahawks.  Betway lists Green Bay as -6.5 home favourites (-110).

The Los Angeles Rams have made it to the divisional round of the 2020 NFL playoffs after upsetting the Seattle Seahawks on their home turf.  The Rams entered that game as +3 road underdogs and ended up winning 30-20.

That’s a significant indication of the Rams’ superb defense allowing just 18.5 points per game, the lowest in the league.  They recorded two takeaways, including a costly pick-six courtesy of CB Darious Williams, who tormented Russell Wilson every time they met this season.

The Rams pretty much played the perfect brand of football possible.  They avoided turnovers, and their top offensive players all turned in excellent efforts, including RB Cam Akers, who ran all over the place, racking up 131 yards and a touchdown.

This is what the Rams are capable of, but the reality is that they are a very inconsistent team, especially on the offensive side of things.   For a team with all the talent they have on offense, they’ve had several poor offensive showings this season and have relied mostly on their defense to win games.

There’s no denying that the Rams defense is excellent, but the Packers are the No. 1 ranked total offense and have the front-runner MVP, Aaron Rodgers, under center.  It won’t be a cakewalk for Rodgers, but likewise, the Rams defense will have their work cut out for them.

Betway has the Packers set as -6.5 home favourites (-110), but the better value is on the UNDER 42.5 total game points at +140.  I don’t expect Aaron Rodgers to light up the Rams so easily, but given that they’re rested, the Packers should win.  Plus, the Rams are still banged up, and it’s a cold-weather home game for them.

I’m predicting a final score of 23-13, with the Cheeseheads advancing to the NFC Championship.

• Los Angeles is 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games against Green Bay
• The UNDER has cashed in 4 of Los Angeles’ last 5 games
• Green Bay is 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games
• The UNDER has cashed in 5 of Green Bay’s last 6 games at home against Los Angeles