I don't know about you, but outside of any games involving my favorite team I circled six that were absolutely can't-miss for the 2014 season. They were: Week 3 -- Broncos at Seahawks; Week 7 -- 49ers at Broncos; Week 9 -- Broncos at Patriots; Week 13 -- Seahawks at 49ers; Week 13 -- Patriots at Packers; and Week 15 -- 49ers at Seahawks.

Of course, that Week 3 game was a rematch of the Super Bowl, and it was quite a rematch with the Broncos tying late in regulation but the Seahawks winning in overtime. The Denver-San Francisco matchup was a potential Super Bowl preview but was a dud with the Broncos cruising. Broncos-Patriots also was a dud with New England winning in a rout.

However, with how the NFL has shaken out this season, I don't think any game looks better on paper than Sunday's mega-showdown between New England and Green Bay at Lambeau Field. Amazingly, it's the first time that Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, both California natives, have ever started against one another. It may well be the last if both clubs don't make the Super Bowl this season. Rodgers' Packers likely will be contenders for many more years, but Brady is 37. Who knows how much longer he can go, even though Brady is playing like an MVP. This almost surely will be the last regular-season matchup because the teams won't face off again for another four years.

If you are going to lose a game, it's always best to do it out of conference as that doesn't affect potential tiebreakers. So in a way New England can afford to lose this more. The Pats (9-2) will win the AFC East again and are one game clear of No. 2 Denver in the AFC with the Patriots holding that tiebreaker. Every other AFC contender is two games back. Green Bay (8-3) is battling Detroit just for the NFC North title and could end up as a wild card or even out of the playoffs altogether, although I expect the Pack to win the division.

The Packers and Patriots are the only teams in the league to make the playoffs each of the last five seasons. Bovada had a Week 13 yes-only special that this matchup will be replayed in the Super Bowl at +500. Sportsbook.ag has this matchup as the co-favorite at +450 with Packers-Broncos. Green Bay is the Sportsbook.ag +350 Super Bowl favorite, with New England No. 2 at +400. I would not recommend that yes-only prop.

Patriots at Packers Betting Story Lines

You want offense? I got offense for you. New England (32.5) ranks first in the NFL in points per game this season with Green Bay (32.2) in second. The Packers (44) lead the NFL in touchdowns scored while the Patriots (40) are third. The two teams rank No. 1 (Patriots 357) and No. 2 (Packers 354) in total points scored.

You could have understood if both these teams played a little bit sluggishly last week looking ahead to this one. Green Bay definitely did, winning 24-21 at a pretty bad Minnesota team. The Vikings closed to within the final score on a Teddy Bridgewater TD pass with 3:23 left, but Green Bay was able to run out the clock on the next possession with two key first downs. Rodgers was just OK by his standards, going 19 of 29 for 209 yards and two scores. He has largely been a different guy away from Lambeau this year. Eddie Lacy was the star vs. Minnesota with 25 carries for 125 yards and a TD as well as a TD catch.

If Lacy is running like that, the Packers aren't going to lose with Rodgers having more open lanes to hit Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, perhaps the NFL's best receiving duo this season. Sunday was just Lacy's second 100-yard game of the year (first also vs. Minnesota), and he hadn't carried more than 17 times in any other game.

The Pack have won three straight and seven of eight overall. They are perfect at home and have crushed everyone there since a 31-24 Week 2 win against the Jets at Lambeau. Those 31 points are the fewest Green Bay has scored at home. In their past two there, the Packers had 53 and 55 points. Under Coach Mike McCarthy, Green Bay has scored 30-plus points at home 33 times overall, winning 31 of those.

New England is on the type of run you rarely see in this league. The Pats have won seven straight, with six of those wins by at least 15 points. They have scored at least 34 points in six of those seven. New England didn't fall into a look-ahead game last week in blasting the visiting Lions 34-9. That's 34 points on the NFL's No. 1 defense. Brady threw for 349 yards and two scores. Week 11 breakout star Jonas Gray didn't take a single snap -- he was late to a meeting on Friday -- so Bill Belichick simply turned to just-signed LeGarrette Blount, who had 78 yards rushing and two scores.

For what it's worth, McCarthy is 0-2 vs. Belichick. The Patriots ripped Green Bay 35-0 in 2006, McCarthy's first season. In 2010, Green Bay lost 31-27 at New England for its only loss of the season on the way to the Super Bowl. Yes, Rodgers was the starter that year, but he missed that game with an injury.

New England Patriots at Green Bay Packers NFL Week 13 Betting Odds and Trends

At 5Dimes , Green Bay is a 3-point favorite (-125) with alternate lines of 3.5 (+100) and 2.5 (-150). The Packers are -175 on the moneyline with the Patriots at +155. The total is 58. New England is 7-4 against the spread (3-2 on road) and 8-3 "over/under" (4-1 on road). Green Bay is 6-4-1 ATS (4-0-1 at home) and 9-2 O/U (5-0 at home).

New England is 6-0 ATS in its past six vs. teams with a winning record. However, the Pats are just 5-11 overall in their past 16 road games. Green Bay is 5-2 ATS in its past seven against teams with a winning road record. The Pack are 2-7 ATS in their past nine in November. The over is 8-2 in New England's past 10 in November. It is 4-1 in the team's past five against teams with a winning record. The over is 6-1 in Green Bay's past seven vs. teams with a winning record and 5-0 in the past five following an ATS loss.

New England Patriots at Green Bay Packers Expert NFL Picks and Betting Predictions

Something has to give here with how dominant that Green Bay has been at home but the fact New England has won 14 straight games against NFC North teams. The Packers were the first team to defeat the Patriots at Gillette Stadium, claiming a 28-10 victory on Oct. 13, 2002. New England hasn't lost to an NFC North team since.

It's going to be cold (shocker!), with temperatures likely in the low 20s/high teens at kickoff, but snow doesn't look like an option. This total is a monster, I believe the highest in the NFL this season along with the 58 in Patriots-Colts two weeks ago. That one did go over, although obviously playing in a dome helped matters.

Personally I don't care who wins, just want to see an Instant Classic between two Hall of Famers who might not be on the same field again. I simply can't go against the Pack at home. So give the 2.5-point alternate line. I realize every single trend says go over, but call it a hunch and go under, although hopefully by kickoff it's at 59. Final score: Green Bay 30, New England 27.

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