SPORTS N STUFF

The Arizona Cardinals are ready for round two of their preseason, as they take a step up in competition and travel to Lambeau Field to take on the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers. The Cardinals opened their exhibition schedule with a close win over the Oakland Raiders, and will look to keep the sports betting bonus momentum going against a Packers team that lost their opener at the Cleveland Browns.

Arizona Cardinals @ Green Bay Packers
Friday August 19, 2011 8:00 PM ET
Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
NFL Betting Lines: Green Bay Packers 3.5

While preseason play doesnt mean all that much to most teams, it does to some and that list includes a Cardinals team just three years removed from a Super Bowl appearance. Arizona feel they made the most necessary change to make them a contender once again with the addition of a franchise quarterback in Kevin Kolb, and although it is still early the Packers represent a true test of merit.

NFL Betting Preview: Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals land in Green Bay looking for another impressive performance from Kolb, who completed four-of-seven passes for 68 yards in the win over the Raiders. It didnt take long for Kolb to find wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald for a spectacular grab downfield, and fans in Arizona are hoping to see those two hook up a lot more. While the offense looked good against Oakland, the defense still has some major work to do and they will be tested as Aaron Rodgers sees a little more playing time and looks to open things up.

NFL Betting Preview: Green Bay Packers

Rodgers complete six-of-eight passes for 74 yards and a touchdown against the Browns defense, looking very sharp in the Packers preseason opener. Head coach Mike McCarthy will continue to give him chances to work the ball down field, while also figuring things out on the ground as a talented group of runners sorts things out. The Green Bay defense likes to play fast and they like to get pressure on the quarterback from all angles. It will be interesting to see how they match up against Fitzgerald this early in the preseason, as they look to give a show to what projects to be a rowdy sports betting crowd.

NFL Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick

Every preseason game is taken with a grain of salt, but that doesnt mean that the defending Super Bowl champions wont be jacked up to play in front of their home crowd for the first time this preseason. The Cardinals did a lot of things right in the opening win over the Raiders, but will have to get used to facing an entirely different kind of beast in a hurry as they clash with Green Bay. The Packers will look to open things up a little more on both sides of the ball, and it will be interesting to see how the Cardinals react.

NFL Betting Pick: Green Bay Packers 3.5