Green Bay Packers

No team in the NFL had a more tumultuous offseason this year than the Green Bay Packers, and few teams looked forward to the start of this season with as much anticipation as did the Green and Gold.

Green Bay unexpectedly won the NFC North last year, then found itself with home-field advantage for the NFC championship game, after the Giants knocked off the Cowboys. But in the bitter cold at Lambeau Field, New York ran the ball for 134 yards, held the Pack to a meager 28 ground yards, and turned a Brett Favre interception into the game-winning field goal.

Then Favre retired, seemingly handing the reins of this team to fourth-year clipboard jockey Aaron Rodgers. Then Favre came back, sort of. Then, finally, he was traded to the Jets. So, finally, officially, this became Rodgers' team. But the former Cal Bear won't have to carry this squad.

Green Bay won 13 games last year, ranking second in total offense at 371 YPG, although only 21^st in rushing at 100 YPG, 11^th in total defense at 313 YPG and 14^th vs. the run at 103 YPG. Add it up, and the Packers ranked fifth in the league last year in total yardage at +57 per game. Most importantly to bettors, Green Bay overachieved on the NFL betting lines, going a league-best 12-3-1 against the spread. The bad news for Packer financial backers is that numbers like that tend to trend the other way from season to season.

Other than the QB situation, the Pack didn't do much in terms of offseason personnel changes, and returns 20 of 22 starters. RB Ryan Grant perked up the running game last year, gaining nearly 1,000 yards rushing in just two-thirds of a season. And Rodgers will have the advantage of throwing to one of the best and gutsiest receiving corps in the league, led by Donald Driver and big-play Greg Jennings.

The defense is not dominant, but should again be solid, especially with Nick Barnett and AJ Hawk at linebacker. The Packers won't win 13 games again this season but to reach the playoffs again, they won't have to. Overall, this is a good, young football team, although not without its weak spots, like on the offensive line. And CBs Al Harris and Charles Woodson are both in their 11^th NFL seasons, and age makes the football betting community nervous.

Rodgers has been brought along slowly, behind Favre, of course, instead of getting thrown into a sink-or-swim situation right away. But he has talent, and a good arm. Even with a first-year starter at QB, Green Bay can win 10 games this year.