2012 NFL on FOX Week 17 Free Pick & Prediction: Lions +3 vs. Bears
By Drew Sharper
DETROIT, MI (TheSpread) – Will the Bears show up on Sunday and help their playoff cause when they meet the Lions at 1PM ET on FOX?
NFL Odds: According to oddsmakers from online sports book Bovada.lv, Chicago is the favorite on the road, as the Bears have odds of -3 points against the Lions. The over/under total has been set at 44.5 points. Chicago is 9-6 on the season, 4-3 on the road and 7-8 against the spread. Detroit is 4-11 overall, 2-5 at home and 5-10 against the spread.
Line Movement: Opening odds had the Bears favored by 3.5 points over the Lions. The spread moved from a high of 3.5 to a low of 2.5 before closing at Chicago -3. The over/under total opened at 44.5 points. It moved up to 45 points during the week before closing at 44.5.
Public Betting: Of the wagers currently placed on this game, 71% of NFL public bettors currently favor the Bears with odds of -3 points against the Lions. This information is subject to change leading up to kickoff, however, so make sure you click on the link provided for the most up-to-date NFL public betting numbers.
NFL Week 17 Free Pick: Take the Lions. According to latest NFL trends, Chicago is just 1-4 against the spread in its last 5 games against the Lions and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 divisional games. The Lions are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games after a double-digit loss. The home team has won the last three games in this series, including a 13-7 win for Chicago against Detroit back on Oct. 22. The Bears have been having trouble on offense as of late, especially in pass protection. Detroit’s defensive line should be able to cause some problems for Jay Cutler and keep the game close. With Calvin Johnson looking to get to 2,000 receiving yards, Detroit will still be aggressive on offense despite having nothing to play for. These two teams don’t like each other and the Bears have vocally called Detroit a “dirty” team. That should be enough motivation for the Lions to spoil the Bears’ playoff hopes.
2012 NFL WEEK 17 FREE PICK: DETROIT LIONS +3