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The Lions vs. Saints line had New Orleans as a pretty hefty -9 point favorite against a solid Detroit team. Hmmmmmm. Bet this one at Sportsbook.com and receive up to $250 in FREE CASH based on your initial deposit.
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: New Orleans -9 & 53.5
Opening Line & Total: Saints -9 & 53
The Lions have a difficult enough task of slowing down Drew Brees and the high-flying Saints on Sunday night, but it was made more difficult when their best defender DT Ndamukong Suh was suspended for two games.
Detroit’s dream season has hit a few road bumps over the past six games, as the Lions have gone 2-4 SU and ATS while looking quite bad the past three weeks (blowout losses to Chicago and Green Bay, and a wild shootout home win over Carolina). QB Matthew Stafford hasn’t looked right since breaking the index finger on his throwing hand, throwing nine interceptions over the past three weeks. The blitz-happy Saints defense is fueled by turnovers and big plays, but they are also susceptible to potent passing offenses, allowing Eli Manning to throw for over 400 yards on them Monday night. And the last time the Saints had a huge home win in primetime (62-7 win over the Colts Oct. 23), they responded with a dud the following week, suffering a 31-21 loss at lowly St. Louis. With the short week after a Monday’s win, another letdown could be in store. Also, the Lions are 8-3-2 ATS (73%) on the road and 14-6 ATS (70%) against NFC opponents in the past two seasons.
In addition to Stafford’s hand injury, the Lions are also concerned with the state of their running game. Jahvid Best is on IR (concussion) and backup Kevin Smith suffered a high ankle sprain in last Thursday’s loss to Green Bay. Maurice Morris has been a capable fill-in though, gaining 130 total yards against the Pack and rushing for a strong 4.4 yards per carry this season. WR Calvin Johnson continues to be one of the best receivers in football, gaining 1,023 yards through the air (3rd in NFL) with a league-leading 12 touchdowns this season. The Saints have allowed 254 passing YPG (27th in NFL) and don’t have much chance to slow down the man nicknamed Megatron.
These teams have met twice in the past five years, with New Orleans winning both games in a rout (42-7 and 45-27). QB Drew Brees torched the Lions with six touchdown passes the last time Detroit visited the Superdome in the 2009 season opener. In the two meetings, Brees is 56-of-74 (76%) for 709 yards, 8 TD and 1 INT. Brees has also been close to unstoppable at home this season. His 363 yards and five total touchdowns (4 passing, 1 rushing) in Monday Night’s blowout win over New York gives him 18 total TD and just 3 INT in the Superdome this year (121.1 rating). However, Brees could be missing his most reliable target in TE Jimmy Graham who suffered a head injury from a violent illegal hit on Monday. Graham, who is tied for fourth in the NFL in both receiving yardage (957) and touchdowns (eight), is listed as questionable. Brees could take advantage of a banged-up Lions secondary though, as Lions DBs Louis Delmas and Chris Houston are both questionable to play with knee injuries.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
