Packers vs. Lions Pick
Will Aaron Rodgers lead the Green Bay Packers on another big scoring night when they face the Detroit Lions this Sunday night at 8:25PM ET?
According to the oddsmakers at BetDSI, the Packers are favored on the road in this game, as they are getting odds of -3.5 points against the Lions. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 49.5 points. The Packers won the first meeting this season, 34-27 at home, back on Sept. 25. The Packers have won three of the last four in this series and the two have hit the over in three of their last four meetings.
Green Bay is on a real hot streak right now, winning five straight to get to 9-6 on the season and a chance to win the NFC North on Sunday night. The Packers have scored at least 30 points in their last three games and are now 9-6 with the over this season. Green Bay now averages 26.7 points per game on offense thanks to Rodgers. The veteran QB has thrown for 4,128 yards and 36 touchdowns with just seven interceptions on the year to get back into the MVP discussion. Ty Montgomery has emerged as a solid option in the backfield in recent weeks, as he has run for nearly 200 yards over the last two weeks. Defensively, Green Bay is giving up 24.3 points and 379.7 yards per game. Their pass defense has been suspect, allowing 283.7 yards per game through the air.
Detroit has lost back-to-back road games to fall to 9-6 on the season and face this winner-take-all game with Green Bay. The Lions are 10-5 with the under this season, having hit it in eight of their last nine. The defense had been playing well for Detroit, but some injuries caught up with them last week in a 42-21 loss to the Cowboys. Darius Slay was out in that game but has been practicing this week. He leads a D that is giving up just 21.8 points and 358.9 yards per game. Offensively, Detroit is only putting up 21.5 points and 347.6 yards per game. Matthew Stafford has thrown for 3,980 yards and 22 touchdowns, but is dealing with an injured finger and he has thrown four interceptions over the last two games. The Lions continue to be without leading rusher Theo Riddick, who also is a great pass-catching option.
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The total is set high because of what Green Bay has been doing, but I think it’s a big too high. The Lions have been a good defense for most of the season and having Slay play should help improve the pass defense. The Detroit offense isn’t likely to light the world on fire either, as Stafford just isn’t the same QB he was earlier in the year due to the finger injury.
NFL WEEK 17 PICK: PACKERS/LIONS UNDER 49.5