Week 5 Picks Steelers at Lions
The Detroit Lions will likely be without their starting quarterback when they host the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers at 1:00PM ET on Sunday.
The Steelers evened their season record at 2-2 last Sunday night with a 38-28 win over the Chargers in Week 4. Rashard Mendenhall rushed for 165 yards on 29 carries and two touchdowns as the Steelers covered as a 5-point favorite.
The Lions dropped to 1-3 on the year with a 48-24 Week 4 loss to the Bears. Matthew Stafford threw for 296 yards and a touchdown, but left the game in the second half due to a knee injury and couldn’t return. The Lions failed to cover as 10-point underdogs.
Oddsmakers from online sports book SPORTSBETTING.com have made the Steelers 11-point road favorites over the Lions on Sunday. The over/under total for this game has been set at 44.
Without Stafford, the Lions don’t stand much of a chance and given that he hasn’t practiced all week, he’s unlikely to start. That means Daunte Culpepper will get the nod in his place, which could be a disaster for Detroit.
The Steelers defense (even without Troy Polamalu) is bound to force a turnover or two with Culpepper at the controls. The Lions’ passing game will take a hit and given Pittsburgh’s front seven is so good, Kevin Smith is unlikely to see much running room in the ground game.
Ben Roethlisberger and company should light up a bad Detroit defense, especially if Mendenhall can get going again. The Steelers should have no problems generating points and cruising to victory. Punt the points and take the chalk.
Our NFL Week 5 Free Pick for this matchup is: PITTSBURGH STEELERS -11 and OVER 44.
Steelers at Lions Current Odds
415 Pittsburgh Steelers –11 Over 44
416 Detroit Lions +11 Under 44
NFL Week 5 Betting Trends
Pittsburgh is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Pittsburgh is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games on the road
Detroit is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Detroit is 1-20 SU in its last 21 games
NFL Week 5 Injury Report
Pittsburgh Steelers
Willie Parker, RB, Out Week 5 (toe)
Troy Polamalu, S, Doubtful Week 5 (knee)
David Johnson, TE, Questionable Week 5 (ankle)
Andre Frazier, LB, Probable Week 5 (shoulder)
Chris Kemoeatu, G, Probable Week 5 (ankle)
Detroit Lions
Sammie Lee Hill, DT, Out Week 5 (ankle)
Dewayne White, DE, Out Week 5 (hamstring)
Cliff Avril, DE, Questionable Week 5 (hamstring)
Gosder Cherilus, T, Questionable Week 5 (shoulder)
Kalvin Pearson, S, Questionable Week 5 (quadricep)
Ko Simpson, S, Questionable Week 5 (hamstring)
Matthew Stafford, QB, Questionable Week 5 (knee)
Grady Jackson, DT, Probable Week 5 (knee)
Calvin Johnson, WR, Probable Week 5 (thigh)
Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Probable Week 5 (hamstring)
Ernie Sims, LB, Probable Week 5 (shoulder)
Kevin Smith, RB, Probable Week 5 (shoulder)