The 2014 NFL season gets underway on Thursday with a marquee showdown between the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers.
The Seahawks open their title defense at CenturyLink Field where they are 17-1 since drafting Russell Wilson, but bettors will be intrigued by the six points books are giving to the Packers, who likely won't get that many points again this season.
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Green Bay Packers at Seattle Seahawks
Spread: Seattle -6
Total: 47.5
Analysis: The Seahawks needed to be bailed out by the replacement officials the last time the Packers made a trip to the Pacific Northwest, but this year's squad won't need any assistance in getting wins.
The teams meet again on Thursday to kick off the 2014 NFL season. While the officiating should be better this time around, that may not do the Seahawks any good.
The league has asked its officials to put a greater emphasis on illegal contact and defensive holding penalties, directives that were put into place largely because of the habits of this very Seahawks secondary.
That could mean trouble against a Packer passing attack that's as potent as any in football. Aaron Rodgers is back, healthy, and motivated. He'll be aided by running back Eddie Lacy, who will force the Seahawks to respect the ground game while they also make adjustments in the way they defend the pass.
The Seahawks probably find a way to win this one because that's what they do at home, but this isn't the kind of game they can run away with.
Prediction: Seahawks 24, Packers 20
The Play: Green Bay +6
The Trend: The Packers are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games in Week 1.
Odds courtesy Scoresandodds.com. Trends courtesy Covers.
