Packers are 4-0 against spread

The love given to Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre this season has been well deserved, especially from people who have placed money on the Packers, who are 4-0 against the spread heading into tonight’s game against Chicago.

Favre, who broke Dan Marino’s NFL career record for touchdown passes last week, is the main reason why Green Bay (4-0) is a three-point favorite over the Bears (1-3). His early play has provided oddsmakers with confidence to go strong with the Packers, who have dominated the betting action this week, according to Sportsbook.com.

As of Saturday afternoon, Green Bay had received at least 84% of the bets to cover and 65% of the total money line wagers (win straight up). That’s big-time support for the Packers, who are 3-8-1 against the spread in their last 12 games as a home favorite.

The Bears are a shaky bet. Neither Rex Grossman nor Brian Griese seems to be the answer at quarterback and injuries have been a problem for the defending NFC champions.

It also doesn’t help that Chicago is 1-4 against the spread in its last five games as a road underdog and 1-4 against the spread in its last five games against NFC North opponents.

Maybe the best action for Bears’ supporters is the 40 1/2 points over/under. Chicago’s defense may be depleted, but it still has some teeth and the under is 8-2-2 in the Bears’ last 12 games as a road underdog.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 3-1, but they’re still 9 1/2 -point underdogs for today’s game at Indianapolis. If anything, the spread displays how much respect oddsmakers have for the Colts as defending Super Bowl champions.

Because of injuries, Indianapolis will be without starting linebacker Rob Morris and possibly safety Bob Sanders, running back Joseph Addai and wide receiver Marvin Harrison.

Since the line barely dropped this week, betters have jumped all over this game with late support for Tampa Bay. After opening the week with heavy money going toward the Colts, bets on the Buccaneers to cover rallied to 49% by Saturday, according to Sportsbook.com.

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Baseball

The New York Yankees’ season depends on Roger Clemens today as he starts against the Cleveland Indians, who own a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five American League playoff series.

With the Yankees playing at home and Clemens on the mound, the Indians are +180 underdogs. Clemens, who had several late-season starts pushed back because of a hamstring injury, is given the edge over Cleveland starter Jake Westbrook.

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lonnie.white@latimes.com