Green Bay Packers vs. New England Patriots Preseason Week 1 Odds, Betting Stats

Two teams that could end this season by meeting in Super Bowl 50 will square off at Gillette Stadium Thursday night, as the New England Patriots host the Green Bay Packers as 3-point betting favorites at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark in the preseason opener for both teams.

The defending Super Bowl champion Patriots are 9-1 to repeat this year, while the Packers are 6-1 co-favorites to win the Vince Lombardi Trophy along with the defending NFC champion Seattle Seahawks.

New England rallied back for a 28-24 win over Seattle in Super Bowl XLIX behind two fourth-quarter touchdown passes from quarterback Tom Brady and a memorable defensive stand in the closing minutes when rookie defensive back Malcolm Butler picked off a Russell Wilson pass at the one-yard line.

But the Patriots have been clouded by Deflategate this offseason, with Brady still fighting a four-game suspension for his role in the scandal. While Brady is eligible to play in the preseason, he is unlikely to see the field against Green Bay after missing practice to meet about his suspension.

That means New England will get to showcase projected Week 1 starter Jimmy Garoppolo, the second-year quarterback out of Eastern Illinois, who was selected in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft.

Garoppolo completed 19 of 27 passes for 182 yards and one touchdown in limited action as a rookie, and the Patriots will try to give him a decent amount of work to help prepare him for the regular-season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 10.

Meanwhile, the Packers are expected to give starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers some playing time in Thursday's betting matchup, but how much is the question. Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy has reportedly said any players who travel with the team to Gillette Stadium will play, although bettors can expect the starters to be limited.

Last year, Rodgers played in only two of four preseason games, taking 69 total snaps compared to just 45 in 2013. He was held out of last year’s preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans, along with running back Eddie Lacy and wide receiver Jordy Nelson.