Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals Predictions, Odds, Picks

Oct. 28, 2021

Michael Crosson
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

The eighth week of regular season NFL action will kick things off with a heavyweight Thursday night showdown, as Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers will visit Kyler Murray and the undefeated Arizona Cardinals. Coverage begins at 8:20 p.m. ET on NFL Network and FOX.<.p>

Score Prediction

Packers 30, Cardinals 27

Best Bets

Green Bay +6

Kyler Murray (ARI/QB) Over 0.5 INT

Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals Predictions

After kicking off the season with a head-scratching blowout loss to New Orleans in Week 1 (L, 38-3), the oddsmakers seemingly hopped off the Packers’ bandwagon for the next few weeks – highlighted by Green Bay traveling to San Francisco in Week 3 as a 3.5-point underdog against the ailing Niners (W, 30- 28).

Since losing in Week 1 though, Green Bay has played excellent, especially on the defensive side, considering the Packers head into Week 8 riding an impressive six-game winning streak that includes victories over the Steelers, Bengals, and Bears – while surrendering just 15.8 PPG across that time frame. Similarly, the Cardinals are also enjoying a phenomenal start to the season, considering Arizona heads into Week 8 as the last undefeated team standing – yet will undeniably face their most intimidating challenge yet when the red-hot Packers come to town on Thursday night.

I’ll take the points with the Packers here, as the Cardinals went 6-1 ATS across their first seven contests, with their only ATS loss coming in a tight battle against Minnesota (W, 34-33) – but the Packers are a uniquely talented unit, and at the very least, they should give Arizona a run for their money on Thursday night.

More Free NFL Picks

Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals Betting Odds

More Odds | Futures Odds

The Cardinals head into Thursday’s bout favored by nearly a touchdown over the visiting Packers – marking just the second time Green Bay has been an underdog this season.

The total for Thursday night’s contest is stationed near OU 51 at most shops, which marks the highest bar set for a Packers’ game so far this year.

Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals Betting Resources

• Matchup: NFC North vs. NFC West
• Date: Thursday, October 28, 2021
• Venue: State Farm Stadium
• Location: Glendale, Arizona
• TV-Time: FOX/NFLN - 8:20 p.m. ET

• Weather Report
• Injury Report
• Super Bowl 56 Betting

Green Bay Packers Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 6-1
• ATS: 6-1
• O/U: 2-5
• ATS - Home: 3-0
• ATS - Away: 3-1

After a long, uneasy offseason for Green Bay, Rodgers and company stumbled out to a somewhat worrisome start in Week 1, as the Packers squared off against the Saints at a neutral site to open the new season – and got thumped by a stunning 35-point margin (L, 38-3).

Apparently, Green Bay just needed a week to knock the rust off though, considering the Packers immediately bounced back with a trio of victories over the Lions, 49ers, and Steelers – while averaging 30.7 points scored and 20.7 points allowed across the following three games.

Since Week 4, Green Bay’s offense has noticeably lost steam, considering Rodgers and company generated just 24.3 PPG across their latest trio of victories – but the Packers’ defense still stood its ground in those affairs and successfully extended their winning streak to six by surrendering just 15.3 PPG across victories over the Bengals, Bears, and Washington in Weeks 5 through 7.

Arizona Cardinals Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 7-0
• ATS: 6-1
• O/U: 3-4
• ATS - Home: 2-1
• ATS - Away: 4-0

As we approach the halfway point of the season, the Cardinals stand as the last remaining undefeated team in the entire league – and despite their impressive 7-0 tally, I’m still not totally sold on Arizona as a legitimate title contender.

The Cardinals’ undefeated start is an undeniably remarkable feat, but has Arizona shown enough to warrant getting tagged as touchdown-favorites over an opposing NFC contender?

In my opinion, Arizona doesn’t deserve that heightened level of favoritism against top-notch NFC opponents yet – making Green Bay plus points a virtual no-brainer in Thursday’s matchup.

Green Bay running back Aaron Jones has scored a TD in six straight games when playing as the underdog. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Green Bay Packers

• Record: 6-1
• Division Standing: 1st - NFC North
• Points Scored: 168
• Points Allowed: 146
• PS/G: 24 (16th)
• PA/G: 20.9 (7th)

Inside the Stats - Arizona Cardinals

• Record: 7-0
• Division Standing: 1st - NFC West
• Points Scored: 225
• Points Allowed: 114
• PS/G: 32.1 (4th)
• PA/G: 16.3 (1st)

Key Players to Watch

• GNB: Aaron Rodgers - QB (151/221, 1,710 yards, 15 TD, 3 INT)
• GNB: Aaron Jones - RB (89 carries, 404 yards, 2 TD)
• ARI: Kyler Murray - QB (164/223, 2,002 yards, 17 TD, 5 INT)
• ARI: DeAndre Hopkins - WR (33 catches, 420 yards, 7 TD)

Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals Betting Conclusion

After extending their undefeated start to seven games on Sunday afternoon, the Cardinals will quickly turn things around and host the red-hot Packers as touchdown-favorites on Thursday night – who head into Week 8 riding an impressive six-game winning streak of their own.

I’ll take the points with the Packers here, as I expect Green Bay’s defense to handily outplay Arizona’s on Thursday night – which is why I’m also backing Kyler to throw his sixth pick of the year in this matchup.

Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals Betting Trends

• Green Bay has covered the spread in six straight games.
• James Conner has scored a TD in four of his last five games.
• Arizona has won seven straight games.
• Green Bay has gone OVER the point total in give straight games when playing as the underdog.
• Green Bay has scored first in four straight games when playing as the underdog.