Lions vs. Eagles Betting Line
Carrie Stroup here with your Lions vs. Eagles betting line. Be sure to claim your FREE $100 bet and wager on this game LIVE right to the final play at Sportsbook.com here.
Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Philadelphia -3 (even) & 53.5
Opening Line & Total: Eagles -3 (-105) & 54.5
Two teams atop their respective divisions play a crucial game Sunday when the Lions visit the red-hot Eagles.
Detroit holds a one-game lead over Chicago after destroying the Packers 40-10 on Thanksgiving, racking up 561 total yards despite committing four turnovers. Philadelphia is tied for first in the NFC East after four straight wins (3-1 ATS) thanks to 31.0 PPG and just one giveaway during the surge. Eagles QB Nick Foles leads the NFL in passer rating (125.2) with 19 TD and 0 INT, but did not play in last year’s 26-23 OT loss to Detroit, when the Lions erased a 23-13, fourth-quarter deficit to snap a six-game series losing skid. Both clubs have several negative betting trends this week. Since the 2011 season, Detroit has an 0-7 ATS mark after a double-digit win, and a 2-12 ATS record after scoring 30+ points in its previous game. Philadelphia is 1-12 ATS at home in the past two seasons, and 0-10 ATS at home after an ATS loss since the start of 2011.
Detroit continues to be the most pass-happy offense in the NFL with QB Matthew Stafford attempting a league-high 500 passes (41.7 per game) this season. Although his completion percentage is just 59.2% (27th in NFL) and he's thrown 14 interceptions (T-5th in league), Stafford ranks second in the NFL in passing yards (3,825) and third in passing touchdowns (27). Nearly half of those scores have gone to star WR Calvin Johnson who leads the NFL in receiving touchdowns (12) and receiving yards (1,299). Stafford scored two touchdowns (one passing, rushing) in last year's win at Philly, with 135 of his 311 passing yards going to Johnson. This season, the Lions rank second in the league in total offense (425 YPG) and fourth in scoring (27.2 PPG) thanks to an excellent red zone efficient rate (62% touchdowns, 5th in NFL). The ground game has been much improved this year too, going from 101 YPG (23rd in NFL) last year to 115 YPG (15th in league) this season. RB Reggie Bush is enjoying a fine first season in Detroit with 854 rushing yards (4.7 YPC), 448 receiving yards and 5 TD. If Bush is limited because of a lingering calf injury, backup RB Joique Bell is certainly capable of carrying the heavy workload, as he rumbled for 94 yards on 19 carries (4.9 YPC) and a touchdown in last week's win. Defensively, the Lions rank 15th in total defense (345 YPG) and 18th in scoring defense (23.9 PPG), specializing in run defense with 83 YPG allowed (3rd in NFL) on 3.7 YPC (4th in league). Although their passing defense has been weak (262 YPG, 26th in NFL), they lead the league in third-down conversions (31%) and rank third in both time of possession (27:47) and red zone efficiency (39%). Creating turnovers has been a problem though, with just four takeaways in the past six games, with three of those coming last week. Considering how well Eagles QB Nick Foles is protecting the football, this should be a high-scoring affair.
Foles has not thrown a pick in 196 pass attempts, completing 63.3% of his throws for 1,791 yards (9.1 YPA) and 13 of his 19 touchdown tosses coming in the past four games. WR DeSean Jackson (1,021 rec. yards, 7 TD) has been his go-to receiver, but WR Riley Cooper (640 rec. yards, 7 TD) is also having a strong season, with five scores over the past four weeks. While he has made the Eagles a very good passing offense (257 YPG, 9th in NFL), the ground game really makes this offense click, rolling up 147 rushing YPG (2nd in league) on 4.8 YPC (3rd in NFL). RB LeSean McCoy has rushed for 1,088 yards (2nd in NFL) on 4.7 YPC and six scores, while also gaining 435 yards through the air on 11.2 yards per reception, which leads all NFL running backs. But McCoy was held to a mere 22 yards on 14 carries in last year's loss to Detroit. The Eagles defense has struggled all season, allowing the second-most yards in the NFL (412 YPG) and the second-most first downs per game (24.1). A lot of this has to do with a league-worst time of possession (34:23), which is also a product of a poor third down defense (40%, 26th in league). But the Eagles have a respectable scoring defense (23.4 PPG, 16th in NFL) because they do a great job in creating mistakes, tallying multiple takeaways in eight games this year, including four in a row. This recent +8 turnover margin is a big reason the team has won four straight contests.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
