The Green Bay Packers have had an interesting off season, full of drama and distractions. It all started in March when Brett Favre announced his retirement from the NFL. After several attempts by management to talk Favre out of retirement, the Packers were resolved to move on in to the Aaron Rodgers era. Green Bay also drafted another quarterback when they took Brian Brohm from Louisville. The soap opera continues as Favre has since asked for his release, which the Packers have denied and sources have stated that the Packers are trying to gauge what they would be able to get for Favre in a trade. Green Bay has also filed papers with the NFL office accusing the Vikings of misconduct and tampering. One would assume the Packers will not let the future hall of fame quarterback end up in Minnesota or Detroit and will most likely end up trading him to an AFC team.

The Packers surprised the NFL last year, finishing 13-3 in the regular season and running away with the NFC North division. The season ended in disappointment when the Giants came in to Lambeau Field and stunned the Packers in overtime of the NFC Championship.

Green Bay scored 435 points in 2007 while surrendering 291. They went 4-2 against the NFC North and 9-3 against the entire NFC Conference.

The Packers were a great team against the spread in 2007. Overall ATS, they were 12-3-1 which includes 6-1-1 ATS record at home and 6-2 ATS on the road. They were 7-2-1 ATS as a favorite and 5-1 ATS as an underdog. Over bettors also appreciated the Pack, as they were 11-4-1 to the over.

The NFC North has always been an interesting, competitive division. The Minnesota Vikings are expected to better their 8-8 last year record and challenge for the division title. Also Detroit is supposed to be improved and showed signs of improvement last year, going 7-9 and having one of the best offenses in football. The wild card in the division is the Chicago Bears who went 7-9 in 2007 and have many questions heading in to this season.

Some of the sportsbooks have taken the NFC North future odds off the board until the Favre situation is resolved. SBG Global still has the Packers +185 to win the NFC North. 5Dimes Sportsbook has the Packers as a 12/1 favorite to win the NFC Championship and 28/1 to win Super Bowl XLIII.

The Greek Sportsbook has the NFL total season wins set at OVER 8 -135.

The early part of the season will certainly tell us a lot about the Packers this year. They open at home against their rival Vikings in week No.1, travel to Detroit to take on another NFC North rival in week No. 2, come home for a big game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football and then travel to the West Coast of Florida to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If the Packers come out of the gate 2-2, they could be in the thick of things again this season. If they start 1-3, which is certainly possible, it just might be a long season. Besides Detroit & Dallas, they will also travel to Seattle, Tennessee, Minnesota, New Orleans, Jacksonville and Chicago. A likely scenario could have the Packers at 4-7 with two crucial home games on deck against the Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans.

CappersMall.com predicts the Packers to go UNDER the total of 8 and finish with a 7-9 record.

2008 Green Bay Packers Schedule
1    Mon, Sep 8    Minnesota     7:00 PM
2    Sun, Sep 14    at Detroit     1:00 PM
3    Sun, Sep 21    Dallas     8:15 PM
4    Sun, Sep 28    at Tampa Bay     1:00 PM
5    Sun, Oct 5    Atlanta     1:00 PM
6    Sun, Oct 12    at Seattle     4:15 PM
7    Sun, Oct 19    Indianapolis     4:15 PM
9    Sun, Nov 2    at Tennessee     1:00 PM
10    Sun, Nov 9    at Minnesota     1:00 PM
11    Sun, Nov 16    Chicago     1:00 PM
12    Mon, Nov 24    at New Orleans     8:30 PM
13    Sun, Nov 30    Carolina     1:00 PM
14    Sun, Dec 7    Houston     1:00 PM
15    Sun, Dec 14    at Jacksonville     1:00 PM
16    Mon, Dec 22    at Chicago     8:30 PM
17    Sun, Dec 28    Detroit     1:00 PM

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