Only one side can bounce back from defeat from their last outing and the Green Bay Packers will fancy their chances of making it back-to-back losses for the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night.
The 49ers are continuing to battle on without starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, but it looks like a big ask for them to pick up a win at Levi’s Stadium this week.
Garoppolo a Big Loss for San Fran
Nick Mullins will once again have to try and fill the void at QB in the absence of Garoppolo, who remains out on the sidelines with an ankle injury.
Not only does Mullins find himself thrust into the fold once again, but the 25-year-old will be without two of the offense’s biggest weapons, with tight end George Kiddle and wide out Deebo Samuel both ruled out of the encounter with the Packers due to foot injuries.
Raheem Mostert, who caused the Packers all sorts of problems from runningback last time they met, is also sidelined, much to the delight of the Green Bay defense.
A fully-fit San Francisco side would fancy their chances of causing Green Bay problems, but the Packers win at 20/73 seems to be the way to go in the money line market.
Packers Eyeing Revenge
Green Bay will certainly not be short of any motivation ahead of the Thursday night game after losing out to San Francisco in the NFC title game last season.
The 49ers, thanks largely to an impressive running game from Mostert, were able to come out on top 37-20 in that encounter on the way to the Super Bowl.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers grew up as a 49ers fan but he will hold nothing back as he bids to get Green Bay to another Super Bowl before he hangs up his cleats.
The 36-year-old has helped the Packers to a 5-2 record so far this season, as they sit at the top of the NFC East, despite a 28-22 loss to divisional rivals the Minnesota Vikings last time out.
This could match end up being a comfortable win for Green Bay against the injury-hit 49ers and the Packers are 25/27 to win with -7.5 on the points spread.
Cruel Injury List to End 49ers Hopes
It’s not only the likes of Garoppolo, Samuel, Kiddle and Mostert out missing for the clash in northern California.
DE Nick Bosa, DT Solomon Thomas, WR Jalen Hurd, C Ben Garland, CB Richard Sherman, DE Dee Ford, and RB Jeff Wilson are also all out injured.
There is little head coach Kyle Shanahan can do in this situation but hope his roster’s fringe players step up.
They did put up a fight against a strong Seattle Seahawks side last time out to go down 37-27, but again it will be an uphill battle this week.
The 49ers have the ability to score and leak points against Green Bay and, with that in mind, the 25/28 on offer for over 48 total points in the game is tempting.