Packers vs. Lions Pick
Can the Detroit Lions salvage a winning season and cruise past the banged-up Green Bay Packers when the two meet at 1PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Detroit is the favorite at home in this game, as the Lions are getting odds of -7 points against the Packers. The over/under total for the game has been set at 44 points. Green Bay has won three of their last four meetings with the Lions, covering the spread in all three wins. The public betting in this game has 60 percent of the wagers going on the Lions at home. Today’s game takes place from Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan and will air live on FOX.
Green Bay is out of the playoffs for the first time since 2008 due to a 7-8 record following back-to-back losses. The Packers are also 7-8 against the spread this year. Aaron Rodgers has missed most of the season with a broken collarbone so the offense averages just 20.6 points and 330.7 yards per game. Brett Hundley has thrown for 1,664 yards with eight touchdowns and 10 interceptions in his place. Hundley will be without Davante Adams and Jordy Nelson today due to injuries. Defensively, Green Bay is giving up 23.3 points and 364 yards per game. Clay Matthews has a team-high 7.5 sacks, but he is questionable with a hamstring injury.
The Lions saw their playoff hopes dashed last weekend in a bad 26-17 loss at Cincinnati to fall to 8-7 on the season. The Lions are 7-7-1 against the spread on the year and 2-3-1 ATS in their last six. The Lions are giving up 24.3 points and 374.9 yards per game on defense, including 261.8 passing yards per game. Offensively, Detroit is putting up 25 points and 354.5 yards per contest. Matthew Stafford has thrown for 4,123 yards and 26 touchdowns with 10 interceptions despite an injury-plagued line and one of the worst rushing attacks in the NFL. Marvin Jones Jr. has caught 57 passes for 1,020 yards and eight touchdowns.
The Lions were able to beat the Packers comfortably in Green Bay earlier this season. Detroit moved the ball on the Green Bay defense and created problems on defense for Hundley. Green Bay is without most of its top offense weapons and playing on the road, so I look for the Lions to pounce. Detroit should be able to create turnovers and gives its offense a short field to score on.
NFL WEEK 17 PREDICTION: DETROIT LIONS -7