2011 NFL Playoffs: Green Bay Packers/Philadelphia Eagles Betting Odds and Pick

Wild Card weekend betting ends Sunday night with perhaps the most anticipated game of the weekend as the Philadelphia Eagles host the Green Bay Packers. Online betting giant Sportsbook.com currently has the Packers vs. Eagles point spread at Philadelphia -2.5 points.

These two teams met Week 1 at Lincoln Financial Field, and the odds-makers had Green Bay as three-point road favorites.  The Packers delivered, winning 27-20, but it should be noted that then-starting quarterback Kevin Kolb was knocked out of the game. His replacement, Michael Vick, showed Eagles' fans a nice glimpse of things to come. Vick gave the Packers’ defense fits, throwing for 175 yards and a score, as well as more rushing for more than 100 yards.

To combat Vick’s immense talents, expect a lot of blitzing from a talented Packers defense that allowed just 15 points per game this season. Led by linebacker Clay Matthews Jr., Green Bay was second in the league in sacks with 47. The Eagles' offensive line has allowed their quarterback to be sacked 50 times this season, ranking near the bottom of the league.

The NFL betting crowd seems to be on top of this, as 56 percent of the Packers-Eagles point spread bettors favor Green Bay.

Vick was held out of last week’s season finale, not only because the game didn’t mean much, but also because of a banged-up quadriceps. He will be under center later today, but it will be interesting to see if he will be 100 percent.

The Eagles' defense has some issues heading into this game.  They can be scored upon, giving up 23.6 points per game this season. The only playoff teams that surrendered more were the Seattle Seahawks and the Indianapolis Colts.  The Eagles also have the worst red zone defense in the league.  Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers should have a field day inside the 20-yard line.

Much of Philly’s defensive woes can be attributed to their health.  Cornerback Dimitri Patterson, safety Kurt Coleman and linebacker Moise Fokou aren’t names that come to mind when I think of a playoff-caliber defense.

Home field advantage carries little weight into this game as well.  The Eagles' home-field advantage was practically nonexistent this season, registering a 4-4 record at home.

The Eagles have not been generous to the football betting crowd when they are favored. The last five times they were giving points, the Eagles covered the spread just once. Meanwhile, the Packers are 4-1 against the spread in their last five games as a road underdog.

Oddsauthority.com Packers-Eagles Prediction and Pick

The Green Bay Packers are playing better football right now, winning two critical games in the last two weeks of the season. The Eagles, on the other hand, dropped that inexcusable Week 16 game to the Vikings. Coupled with injury woes and lack of a true home-field advantage, take the Packers' money line odds at plus 110 at Sportsbook.com.