Packers vs. Cardinals Pick & Odds: 2010 NFL Wildcard Game: January 10th 2010

Touthouse HandicappersJan 10, 2010

Packers vs. Cardinals
Free Pick: Green Bay Packers -1.5 (-110 odds)
Sun January 10th 2010 4:40p
Visit Touthouse.com for more expert NFL football playoff picks from LT Profits

Last season, the Arizona Cardinal surprised many by winning the NFC Championship, but this season, look for their Super Bowl quest to end after just one game, thanks to the red-hot Green Bay Packers.

The Packers were the hottest team in the NFC down the stretch, as they went 7-1 straight up in the second half of the season with the only loss being by one point to the Pittsburgh Steelers on a flukish play to end the game.

TOP NEWS

While Aaron Rodgers has gotten most of the credit, and he has certainly had a great season, do not overlook the spark that Ryan Grant has given the running game in the second half, and Grant may very well be the deciding factor in this game. This because Arizona has allowed at least 100 rushing yards in eight of their last 11, and a if Grant is as successful as we expect, it will slow down an Arizona pass rush that recorded 43 sacks this season.

Also overlooked often is a Green Bay defense that allowed only 18.6 points and 284.4 yards per game this season. Like the Packers, the Arizona passing game clicks better when they have the threat of a running game, and while Beanie Wells had a strong second half, we do not expect him to do much here vs. a Packers run defense that allowed only 83.3 rushing yards per game on a measly 3.6 yards per carry.

This should turn Arizona into a one-dimensional passing offense, and while they certainly have the weapons to win that way in Warner and the best receiving corps in football, good NFL defenses can adjust to lopsided offensive styles.

Look for Green Bay to do just that as they advance to next week.

Note: We actually played the Packers as Money Line underdogs earlier this week, but we would still recommend them as long as they are less than -3. In other words, Packer backers should act quickly!

NFL Free Pick: Packers -1.5 (-110)