The biggest game for Notre Dame fans is an obvious one, that being when Clemson comes to South Bend on November 7. It will be just the fourth-ever meeting between the schools and Clemson’s first trip to Notre Dame since 1979.
Couple that with Trevor Lawrence and plenty of friends returning for the Tigers, who may be two-time defending national champions at that point and it could be the biggest game at Notre Dame Stadium since arguably the 2005 clash with USC.
247 Sports ranked that game the game they’re third most-excited for in 2020 with it trailing only Ohio State traveling to Oregon in September and Alabama and Georgia meeting in the regular season (non-SEC Championship) for the first time since 2015.
They also rank Notre Dame’s trip to Lambeau Field to take on Wisconsin in Week Five as the tenth most exciting matchup next season.
It’s hard to argue that either belong, my only argument would be that the Clemson match-up should be higher, although I get why it isn’t.
The Seattle Seahawks will face the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round and will try for their first win in Lambeau Field since 1999.
The Seattle Seahawks face a daunting challenge in the divisional round of the 2019-2020 NFL postseason as they travel to Lambeau Field to play the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
The Packers finished 13-3 and claimed the No. 2 seed in the NFC under a rookie head coach in Matt LaFleur, a revitalized offense, and a defense that has shown flashes of greatness throughout the season. Not many of their wins have looked easy, and like the Seahawks, they have had a tendency to play down to the level of their seemingly-inferior opponents. However, quarterback Aaron Rodgers is still capable of strong play even at age 36 and he has proven that he can still take over a game when the Packers need him to.
But there is something even more troubling for Seattle. The Seahawks have not won a game in Lambeau Field since 1999, the first season in franchise history under Mike Holmgren. Be it in the regular season or the playoffs, Seattle has been unable to seize victory in Lambeau in the 21st century. In fact, the Seahawks have had quite a few brutal losses on the frozen tundra, including the 2003-2004 wild card loss in which Matt Hasselbeck threw a pick-six to Al Harris in overtime that decided the outcome, and a 38-10 thumping in 2016 in which Russell Wilson threw five interceptions. In addition, Green Bay is known to play well in wintry conditions and the temperature drops of December and January, especially in Wisconsin. This matchup will certainly not be easy and the Seahawks should definitely expect more resistance from Green Bay than they received from the Eagles.
Seattle has a prime opportunity to defeat the Packers in Lambeau for the first time this century. It will not be a cakewalk, but the Seahawks have proven themselves to be warriors on the road this season with an 8-1 record (postseason included) and they could extend that record on Sunday. If there is one thing the Seahawks know how to do, it is keeping a game competitive.
The Seattle Seahawks will travel to snowy Green Bay, Wisconsin to take on the Packers in their toughest road game of the season.
The Seattle Seahawks are now a remarkable 8-1 in road games this season, with an ugly 28-12 loss to the Rams in Los Angeles preventing them from a perfect record away from CenturyLink Field.
The list of teams with eight road wins in a season is small, and the list with nine only includes two teams – the 2007 Giants and 2005 Steelers – both who won the Super Bowl.
So it’s no question that Seattle’s trip to Lambeau Field in Green Bay will be a crucial one, and almost certainly represents their biggest road test of the entire season.
“There’s no tougher place to play than going to Green Bay,” coach Pete Carroll said on Monday. “We’re as ready as you can get. I like that. We’re gonna try to make the most of it.”
With respect to the road crowds in Philadelphia, San Francisco, Pittsburgh and everywhere else, Green Bay presents an entirely unique challenge – not just because of the rapid fanbase in Wisconsin but the weather conditions, which are particularly tricky this late in the season.
“I don’t think you can connect a fan base with your team any tighter than you can do it there,” Carroll continued. “They do a great job of knowing how to be a factor. And then there’s conditions to that go along with it. Earlier in the year it’s not a big deal, but late in the year the conditions can be a factor that you can’t copy. You just have to adjust when you’re there. Any of those things can become distractions if you let them.”
The Seahawks are expected to take on Green Bay in sub 30 degree temperatures, with the current weather forecast showing snow.
The snow, the fans and of course a 13-3 Packers squad will make things exceedingly difficult for the Seahawks on Sunday, but if we know anything about this team, it’s that they will be ready for it.
The Seattle Seahawks will travel to Green Bay on Sunday to face the Packers at Lambeau Field in the divisional round of the playoffs.
The Seattle Seahawks beat the Philadelphia Eagles 17-9 wild-card weekend to advance to the divisional round of the playoffs. Seattle will next travel to Green Bay to square off against the Packers at Lambeau Field. Kickoff is set for Sunday afternoon at 3:40 p.m. PT on Fox.
“There is a real confidence about us,” coach Pete Carroll said after the Seahawks’ victory over the Eagles. “We don’t care where we’re playing.”
Seattle has been impressive on the road this year, winning seven regular-season away games in addition to the wild-card win in Philadelphia.
The weather forecast for Green Bay next Sunday is for high 20’s to low 30’s with cloudy skies – with no snow projected (for now) on game day.
The other NFC divisional-round matchup has been set as well. After beating the Saints in New Orleans, the Vikings will head to Santa Clara to face the 49ers, the top seed in the NFC.
New Orleans and San Francisco will battle first, with the contest set for Saturday, Jan. 11 at 1:35 p.m. PT on NBC.
In 41 career games at Wisconsin, Taylor failed to reach a 100 yard rushing total just nine times.
When Notre Dame takes on Wisconsin on October 3 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay they’ll be taking on a Badgers football team playing without their best player of the last three season.
That’s because all-world running Jonathan Taylor announced Friday night via Twitter that he’ll be leaving school a year early and entering the NFL Draft.
Taylor goes down as not only one of the best Wisconsin running backs to ever do it but one of the best in college football to ever play the position.
In three seasons Taylor ran for 6174 yards and 50 touchdowns and never for less than than the 1977 yards or 13 touchdowns he ran for his freshman year.
He had a career high in rush yards with 2194 as a sophomore and a career-high in total yards by one this season as he ran for 2003 but caught a career high 252 yards worth of passes, resulting in five more scores.
In 41 career games at Wisconsin, Taylor failed to reach a 100 yard rushing total just nine times.
Wisconsin will still be in fine shape come October as their eight ten-plus win seasons since 2009 say as much, but it takes a lot to stay at the same level as an offense when you lose a talent like Taylor.
Previewing the Green Bay Packers’ Super Bowl LIV chances, with NFL betting odds, picks, futures and best bets.
Should you bet anyone to win the Super Bowl? That’s a personal question I suppose. Some would say no. I’d definitely argue yes. In the spirit of trying to break the BetMGM book, let’s take a look at the Green Bay Packers’ case to win Super Bowl LIV.
NFL futures odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Thursday at 11:30 a.m. ET.
Green Bay Packers playoff futures
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NFC Champion: +400
First things first, can the Packers win the NFC championship? I’d argue the best value to win the NFC is the Packers. Considering they are the No. 2 seed entering the playoffs, which earned them a bye in the first round and home-field advantage against every NFC opponent aside from the San Francisco 49ers, isn’t there inherent value in taking the Packers (the third favorite to make it out of the NFC)?
(Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch – USA TODAY Sports)
Lambeau Field is arguably the strongest home-field advantage in the NFL. Factor in winter conditions and beating the Cheeseheads at Lambeau in January is a rare feat. Since 2008 (when Aaron Rodgers became the Packers’ starting quarterback), Green Bay has the best record in the NFL as a home favorite at 52-33-3.
Also, the Packers are 28-15 straight up in the Rodgers era when having a rest advantage over opponents (sixth-best in the NFL). Given these factors, and their future first-ballot Hall of Fame quarterback. PACKERS (+400) to win the NFC is the best value on the board.
Super Bowl: +800
Banking on our Packers +400 bet slip to win the NFC title to cash, what are the chances the PACKERS (+800) win Super Bowl LIV? Many consider the Packers an overrated team heading into the playoffs, but they’ve consistently exceeded expectations this season. The definition of expectations made for a sports team is how they perform against sportsbooks’ odds.
The Packers beat their projected regular-season NFL win total of nine (13-3 straight up) and they had the sixth-best record against the spread in the NFL (10-6 ATS). Winning and appearing in only one Super Bowl in the Rodgers era can be viewed as a disappointment for the Packers, but their 10-5-1 ATS record in playoff games is the second-best in the NFL since 2008 (minimum of three games played).
(Photo credit: Harrison Barden – USA TODAY Sports)
Rodgers isn’t having his typical MVP-caliber season but the Packers should still be considered a dual-threat offense. Rodgers’ down-year included 4,002 passing yards, 26 touchdowns and just four interceptions on a 62% completion rate. But running back Aaron Jones has provided Rodgers with a quarterback’s best friend with a strong run game.
Jones ran for 1,084 yards and tied with an NFL-leading 16 rushing touchdowns. His production is key to the Packers offense; the Packers won all five of the games in which Jones ran for 100-plus yards. Rodgers’ favorite target—WR Davante Adams—missed four games but is healthy to end the season, and he can get a little healthier because of the Packers first-round bye. Adams got rolling at the end of the regular season, catching 27 balls with 312 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the final three games of the season.
The Packers defense is ranked ninth in opponent’s points scored. The last time the Packers were in the top-10 in that category was in 2010 (ranked second) when they won Super Bowl XLV. Their defense is led by two legit pass rushers—both added this past offseason—in DE Preston Smith (12 sacks) and DE Za’Darius Smith (13.5 sacks and NFL-leader in pressures). Based on the Packers’ ability to play complementary football and the wide-open landscape of the NFL entering the postseason, take the PACKERS (+800) to win the whole damn thing.
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Eddy Pineiro will kick in the coldest game of his career this week when the Bears travel to Green Bay for a pivotal NFC North showdown.
It’s no secret that Bears kicker Eddy Pineiro isn’t a fan of the cold. Tough luck for a kicker that grew up in South Florida that’s tasked with kicking in Chicago.
But if Pineiro thought that he’d kicked in cold weather before, just wait until he sees what awaits him Sunday at Lambeau Field. The high temperature is expected to be 19 degrees with a wind chill in single digits. Simply put, it’ll be the coldest game Pineiro has ever kicked in.
Pineiro practiced outdoors Wednesday, where the temperature was in the low 20s, to try and get acclimated for what awaits him on Sunday. So what did he learn?
“Just hit the same ball,” Pineiro said. “It’s just going to be colder. It’s probably not going to go as far.”
The weather is out of Pineiro’s control, which is why special teams coordinator Chris Tabor wants him to focus on controlling the things he can control.
“He just has to go up and hit his football,” Tabor said.
As for how Pineiro fared in the frigid temperatures outside Halas Hall on Wednesday, he did “just fine.” Not exactly reassuring considering Pineiro has been anything but fine in the cold this season.
Considering Pineiro is a rookie in the league, he’s still growing as a player. A big part of that growth is from a mental standpoint. For a kicker, that means dealing with the highs — like a game-winning field goal against the Broncos — and the lows — missing a last-second game-winning field goal against the Chargers.
“I think I’ve gotten mentally stronger,” Pineiro said. “It’s all a learning experience.”
Pineiro’s next test comes in the Bears’ biggest game of the season — a divisional showdown against the hated Packers with playoff hopes on the line. So, no pressure or anything.
Previewing Sunday’s Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers sports betting odds and lines, with Week 15 NFL betting picks, tips and bets.
The Chicago Bears (7-6) visit the NFC North-leading Green Bay Packers (10-3) in the 200th meeting between the longtime rivals Sunday for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff at Lambeau Field (on FOX). We analyze the Bears-Packers odds and sports betting lines, while providing betting tips and advice on this Week 15 NFL matchup.
Bears at Packers: Week 15 preview, betting trends and notes
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The Bears have won three in a row, most recently knocking off the Dallas Cowboys 31-24 at home in the Week 14 Thursday game.
The Packers, who lead the division by a game over the Minnesota Vikings and currently sit in the No. 2 NFC playoff spot, are on a two-game win streak after beating the visiting Washington Redskins 20-15 last week.
A Chicago loss in Green Bay would eliminate the Bears from playoff contention if the Vikings win at the Los Angeles Chargers later Sunday.
The Bears are 3-3 on the road, but 4-9 Against the Spread (ATS) overall.
The Packers are 6-1 at home and 8-5 ATS overall.
The Packers won the first head-to-head meeting of the season, 10-3 in Week 1 at Soldier Field.
Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky has thrown for 2,440 yards and 16 TDs, but with 8 interceptions.
Packers QB Aaron Rodgers has thrown for 3,260 yards with 23 TDs and 2 picks in 13 games.
The Bears defense ranks fourth in points allowed (17.8 PPG) and 10th in yards allowed (326.5 YPG).
While the Packers offense hasn’t been its usual self – ranking 23rd in yards (340.1 YPG) – the defense has been decent, ranking 13th in points allowed (20.8 PPG) but 22nd in yards allowed (367.9 YPG).
Aaron Jones leads the Packers ground attack, rushing for 779 yards with 12 TDs. David Montgomery has been the Bears’ main RB, tallying for 680 rushing yards with 5 TDs
Bears at Packers: Key injuries
Bears: WR Taylor Gabriel (concussion), TE Ben Braunecker (concussion), RT Bobby Massie (ankle), DE Roy Robertson-Harris (foot) and LB Danny Trevathan (elbow) are questionable. CB Prince Amukamara (hamstring) is probable.
Packers: TE Jimmy Graham (wrist), WR Geronimo Allison (knee), RG Billy Turner (knee) and CB Kevin King (shoulder) are questionable.
Bears at Packers: Odds, betting lines and prediction
Nov 28, 2019; Detroit, MI,; Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky looks to pass against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. (Photo Credit: Tim Fuller – USA TODAY Sports)
It’s no surprise the Packers (-209) are favored at home, but I’m not interested in making a 2-to-1 type bet, where every $2.09 wagered only would profit $1 if Green Bay prevails. I’m going to focus on the spread instead. The Bears are +170 where every $1 wagered would profit $1.70 if Chicago wins.
The PACKERS (-4.5, -106) are the STRONGEST PLAY. Green Bay has won the last three vs. the Bears at Lambeau and have won 9 of the past 11 head-to-head meetings at home. Plus, Rodgers is 18-5 vs. the Bears in his career. Chicago (+4.5, -115) last won at Green Bay Nov. 26, 2015.
Every $1.06 wagered on the Packers to win by 5 points or more would profit $1 if they do so.
The UNDER41.5 (-125) is worthy of a small play. The Bears are 5-8 O/U on the season, 2-3 O/U on the road and 0-2 O/U as a road underdog. The Packers are 6-7 O/U overall and 3-4 O/U at home – they’ve been favored in every home game.
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Johnny’s December record: 5-1. Strongest plays: 3-0.
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