Gridiron Guide: Seahawks will cover spread in NFL regular-season opener against Packers
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson smiles after the Seahawks' 34-6 win over the Chicago Bears in a preseason game, Friday, Aug. 22, 2014, in Seattle. Credit: AP / John Froschauer
Thursday night
PACKERS at SEAHAWKS, 8:30 p.m.
Seahawks by 6;O/U: 461/2
TV: Ch. 4; Radio: WCBS (880)
Remember what happened the last time Green Bay played at Seattle?
The Packers held a late 12-7 lead on Sept. 24, 2012. Then-rookie QB Russell Wilson's last-second, end-zone heave appeared to be intercepted by Green Bay's M.D. Jennings. But a replacement official ruled that Seattle's Golden Tate had caught the pass for the winning score.
Cue the chaos.
The nationally televised Monday Night game was dubbed "Fail Mary" and helped end the 2012 referee lockout.
Fast forward to tonight's game that features the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks and two of the top quarterbacks in the NFC.
Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers has the best win percentage (.775) of any starting quarterback the last three seasons. Wilson's 24 victories are the most by a quarterback in his first two seasons during the Super Bowl era.
Seattle has won 18 of its last 20 regular-season and playoff games at home, and is 15-5 against the spread (ATS) in that span.
Green Bay is 2-4-1 ATS vs. NFC West teams dating to Sept. 9, 2012, and even worse, the Packers are 1-7-1 ATS in their last nine games (regular and postseason) as an underdog. It's hard to go against those numbers, as well as the Seahawks at home.
The pick: Seahawks
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