Packers vs. Cardinals Prediction and Odds for Aug. 28: Expect Points

The last NFL preseason week is ready to rock and roll, and it's time to make a Packers vs. Cardinals prediction for Aug. 28! Both teams square off at Lambeau Field on Friday night with plenty of storylines, including a brother-versus-brother coaching matchup between Green Bay’s Matt LaFleur and Arizona’s Mike LaFleur. Green Bay is a slight 1.5-point favorite, while the total sits at 36.5.

Let's dive into the NFL best bets for Friday's Cardinals-Packers matchup.

Packers vs. Cardinals Predictions and Odds: Preseason Week 3

You can follow the latest NFL Odds as kickoff approaches. Preseason odds can shift quickly once teams reveal their plans for starters and key backups. Here's more Packers-Cardinals game information, with odds via DraftKings Sportsbook:

• Spread: Packers -1.5
• Total: 36.5
• Moneyline: Packers -123/Cardinals +103

Green Bay-Arizona Joint Practice Was Competitive

The joint practices between these teams sounded heated, competitive, and more importantly for this total, productive offensively.

Packers beat reporter Matt Schneidman noted that Arizona went toe-to-toe with Green Bay for most of the day Wednesday. He wrote that the Packers lost all four two-minute periods against the Cardinals, adding that Green Bay’s starting and backup offenses failed to score while both Arizona offenses found the end zone.

That is encouraging from a points perspective, especially with the total sitting at 36.5.

Arizona also got a clutch touchdown catch from Marvin Harrison Jr. during the joint practices. The Cardinals need to find ways to get their talented wideout rolling consistently this season, and any positive signs in that regard matter. Trey McBride also reportedly stood out as Arizona closed the practices strong.

There are still concerns on the Cardinals’ roster, particularly along the offensive line and in the secondary. Cardinals reporter Theo Mackie questioned whether Arizona’s offensive line or secondary looked worse during the sessions. That lack of depth could create opportunities for Green Bay’s reserves to move the football on Friday.

On the other side, Tucker Kraft said he expects to be a “full go” by Week 1, which is a great development for the Packers’ offense. Green Bay may not give its key starters much (if any) work Friday, but the team has enough depth at quarterback and receiver to put points on the board.

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Who's Playing in Packers vs. Cardinals?

According to Cardinals reporter Darren Urban, Carson Beck did not practice Wednesday. Urban expects Gardner Minshew and Kedon Slovis to handle the quarterback workload for Arizona on Friday.

Minshew has been around the league for a long time, played in multiple systems, and knows how to move an offense. That matters in preseason football, where competent quarterback play can be the difference between an ugly 13-10 game and a total that gets into the 40s.

Jeremiyah Love will not play as he continues to deal with an ankle injury, so Arizona will need other backs to carry the workload. Still, the Cardinals’ offense showed enough in the joint practices to make me believe it can contribute its share.

Packers vs. Cardinals Best Bet: Friday, August 28

Preseason totals can be tricky because playing time is always a guessing game. We may not see many starters, and if we do, it likely will not be for long. But the joint-practice reports point toward both teams having success moving the football, and 36.5 feels a tick too low. I expect enough back-and-forth to get us over the number.

Before locking in the wager, it is worth checking leading sports betting apps for the best available odds on the game's total.

Best Bet: Packers vs. Cardinals Over 36.5 DraftKings, -102

Good luck, and enjoy the preseason action!