NFL odds, best bets: Carolina Panthers at Green Bay Packers - ESPN

The Green Bay Packers are anxious to get their running game going. They are last in the league with 59.9 rushing yards per game and 2.9 yards per carry. Thursday's opponent could offer an opportunity. The Carolina Panthers have been just as poor stopping the run, allowing a league-high 153.2 yards per game and 5.2 yards per attempt. They allowed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to pile up 258 rushing yards and three touchdowns against them last Sunday.

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For the Packers, Josh Jacobs managed 91 total yards on 16 touches in his season debut last week, and I'd expect his workload to increase. The question is whether Green Bay's injured offensive line can open enough holes for him.

Slowing down the run is key for Carolina, but the bigger concern for the Panthers is keeping Bryce Young upright. Young took five sacks and turned the ball over three times against the Buccaneers. Young has faced pressure on 44.3% of dropbacks against four or fewer rushers, the highest rate among qualified quarterbacks. The Packers are excellent at generating pressure without blitzing and lead the league with nine interceptions. With offensive linemen Taylor Moton and Damien Lewis out, Young could be in for another long night.

The market has changed quite a bit since the preseason. The Packers were 7-point favorites in the August lookahead, and the game had a 45.5-point total. The spread has come down to 3.5, while the total reached 48.5 before settling around 47.5 during game week. I still expect the Packers to win, but I don't see enough value in laying 3.5 points.

I prefer the under. The under has hit in five of Green Bay's seven games this season, and their last