Packers vs. Bengals prediction and odds for NFL preseason Week 1 (Back Green Bay as favorite)

The Green Bay Packers and Cincinnati Bengals will participate in a joint practice today and then face-off in Week 1 of the preseason on Friday night.

Yes, it's preseason, but that doesn't mean we can't bet on it. In fact, some people claim that some of the best betting value can be found in preseason action.

Let's take a look at the odds for the game and then I'll breakdown why you should put a few dollars on the Packers.

Packers vs. Bengals odds, spread, and total

Packers vs. Bengals prediction and pick

The Packers are sizable favorites for a preseason game, but for good reason. First of all, the Bengals obviously won't be playing quarterback, Joe Burrow, after he went down early in training camp with a calf strain.

With that in mind, Green Bay plans on playing Jordan Love for at least a portion of the game, which means they already have an advantage when it comes to playing time for the starters. Even when it comes to backups, I have depth concerns for the Bengals' defense after losing the likes of Jessie Bates and Vonn Bell in the offseason and not doing much to replace them.

Finally, one of the last things we should look at is how coaches perform in preseason matchups. Zac Taylor has a terrible exhibition record since taking over as Cincinnati's head coach. He has gone just 3-7 in preseason games, winning just a single preseason game in each of his three years as top dog.

A 4.5-point spread is relatively big for a preseason game, but it's not going to scare me away. I'll back the Packers to win and cover.

Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.