Lions vs. Packers Prediction
Can the Detroit Lions handle being a road favorite when it takes on the Green Bay Packers at a place where they have struggled, Lambeau Field, tonight at 8:30PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, the Lions are favored on the road in this game, as they are getting odds of -2 points against the Packers. The over/under total for the contest has been listed at 43 points. The Packers have won three straight meetings with the Lions and they have covered the spread in all three games. The public betting in this one has Detroit getting 71 percent of the wagers. Tonight’s game takes place from Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The contest airs live on ESPN.
Detroit has lost three straight entering tonight’s contest, including a 20-15 loss to the Steelers at home last weekend. The Lions are now 3-4 on the season and 3-4 against the spread, covering in their victories. Detroit has had plenty of offensive issues in 2017, averaging 25.1 points and 346.6 yards per game. Matthew Stafford has thrown for 1,851 yards and 12 touchdowns with four interceptions. He has been sacked 25 times this year and the Lions run game is averaging just 82.1 yards per game. Ameer Abdullah is the leading rusher with 369 yards. Golden Tate is the leading receiver with 43 receptions for 449 yards and two scores. Defensively, the Lions are allowing 24.1 points and 359.9 yards per game. The Lions were creating turnovers early in the year, which led to the 3-1 start. Without the turnovers, the defense has looked average.
The Packers are coming off a bye week and they had a 26-17 loss to the Saints at home on Oct. 22. Green Bay is now 4-3 overall and 3-4 against the spread. The Packers are still working on life without Aaron Rodgers under center. Green Bay is averaging just 334.3 yards and 23.4 points per game on offense for the season. Brett Hundley has thrown for 244 yards and one touchdown and four interceptions since replacing Rodgers for close to two games. Aaron Jones is the leading rusher for the offense with 346 yards and three touchdowns while Davante Adams has 30 receptions for 351 yards and five touchdowns. Defensively, Green Bay is allowing 23 points and 363 yards per game. This defense has just 12 sacks on the season, but is facing a Detroit O-line that has struggled to protect its quarterback.
Until a win in 2015 at Lambeau, the Lions had lost 24 straight games at Green Bay. The Packers won again at Lambeau last year. The Packers have covered in five of the last six meetings in Green Bay as well. Detroit has always struggled at Lambeau, even against a backup quarterback. Matt Flynn garnered a massive contract with Seattle based on one performance against the Lions at home years ago. I just can’t trust the Lions as a road favorite at Lambeau. Even with Aaron Rodgers injured.
NFL WEEK 9 PREDICTION: GREEN BAY PACKERS +2