NFL Total Predictions: Detroit Lions vs. Cincinnati Bengals 12/22/17

Lions vs. Bengals Total Pick

Will the Cincinnati Bengals continue their offensive struggles when they host the Detroit Lions on Sunday at 1PM ET?

According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Detroit is favored on the road, as the Lions are getting odds of -3.5 points against Cincinnati. The over/under total for the contest has been set at 44 points. Cincinnati has won five straight meetings with Detroit and the two have hit the over in four of their last five encounters. The public betting in this game has 63 percent of the wagers going on the Lions on the road. Sunday’s game takes place from Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio and will air live on FOX.

The Lions are still in the playoff mix thanks to back-to-back wins. They sit at 8-6 on the season and need to win out in hopes of making the postseason. The Lions are 9-5 with the over this season, but have hit the under in their last two games. Detroit is averaging 25.6 points and 359.1 yards per game. Their run game has yet to produce an 100-yard rusher this season and Matthew Stafford has been sacked 43 times, but he has still thrown for 3,920 yards and 25 touchdowns with nine interceptions. Marvin Jones Jr. has 54 catches for 970 yards and eight touchdowns to aid the offense. Defensively, Detroit is allowing 24.2 points and 374.6 yards per game. The Lions have been good at creating turnovers lately, forcing eight over the last two games. They have 27 as a unit this season and Darius Slay leads the NFL with seven interceptions.

Cincinnati has been a mess in recent weeks, losing to the Bears and Vikings by a combined score of 67-14, including a 33-7 loss to the Bears at home. The Bengals are now 5-9 overall and 8-6 with the under. They have hit the under in their last two games despite giving up all those points. Cincy is averaging just 16.6 points and 286 yards per game on offense this season. Andy Dalton has thrown for 2,860 yards and 21 touchdowns this season, but also has 11 interceptions and has been sacked 35 times. The Bengals have been without leading rusher Joe Mixon in recent games due to a concussion, but he could return this weekend. A.J. Green is leading the offense with 67 catches for 980 yards and eight touchdowns. Defensively, The Bengals are allowing 21.8 points and 363.7 yards per game this season, including 131.5 rushing yards per contest.

Bet on Lions vs. Bengals

The Bengals have been a disaster the last few weeks, looking like a team that has quit on the season. Marvin Lewis isn’t expected back and there doesn’t seem to be much to play for. Getting Mixon back could give this team a spark, but I expect Cincinnati to continue to struggle on offense. The Lions don’t have a run game to beat up this Cincy run defense and Stafford could have some tough reads against the Bengals’ secondary. I look for this game to be somewhat low scoring.

NFL WEEK 16 PREDICTION: LIONS/BENGALS UNDER 44

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