The problems caused by COVID-19 have only amplified the difficulty of the Green Bay Packers’ trip to Arizona to play the unbeaten Cardinals.
While the Packers opened the week as 3.5-point underdogs, the line has now moved to 6.5 points, according to Tipico Sportsbook.
Big news on Monday shifted expectations drastically from a betting standpoint. The Packers are expected to be without All-Pro receiver Davante Adams, who is on the COVID-19 reserve list, and defensive coordinator Joe Barry, who tested positive for COVID-19.
The Packers are also expected to be without All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari, who is still on the PUP list, and both All-Pro edge rusher Za’Darius Smith and All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander are on injured reserve and won’t play.
The challenge awaiting the Packers? Finding a way to beat the NFL’s last remaining unbeaten team on the road during a short week without four All-Pro players.
Betting markets clearly believe the task will be too much for the Packers, especially against a Cardinals team that has won three of the last four games by 17 or more points.
The Packers haven’t been this big of a betting underdog since the 2019 NFC Championship Game in San Francisco (+8.0).
The Packers have only been an underdog in one other game this season. Matt LaFleur’s team beat the 49ers on the road by two points as a three-point underdog last month. The Packers were 2-1 straight up as underdogs last season, beating Minnesota and New Orleans on the road and losing in Indianapolis.
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