Sportsbook.ag Week 13 TNF Betting Preview
The Lions will be going for their fourth straight victory when they host the Packers on Thursday night.
GREEN BAY PACKERS (7-4) at DETROIT LIONS (4-7)
Sportsbook.ag Line: Green Bay -3, Total: 47
Green Bay comes into Thursday’s meeting with Detroit in the midst of a major slump. The Packers have lost four of their past five games SU and five of their past six ATS. One of those losses came at home against the Lions, when Green Bay lost 18-16 as a 10-point favorite.
The Packers will be desperate for a win on Thursday, but they will be facing a Lions team that has won three straight games both SU and ATS and has suddenly found some confidence. Detroit is 2-0 both SU and ATS when hosting Green Bay over the past three seasons and will be hoping to win a third straight on Thursday.
One trend favoring the Packers in this game is that the Lions are 4-14 ATS off one or more consecutive Overs in the past three seasons. Another fact worth pointing out in this game is that the Lions are 9-0 Over after a win by 28 or more points since 1992.
OT Bryan Bulaga (Undisclosed) is questionable for Green Bay on Thursday and WR Ty Montgomery (Ankle) is doubtful. For the Lions, WR Calvin Johnson (Ankle) is probable and both K Matt Prater (Undisclosed) and S Glover Quin (Ankle) are questionable.
The Packers have really been struggling recently, but they are not a team that should ever be counted out. Green Bay has a very good defense that allows just 19.5 PPG (6th in NFL) and one of the best quarterbacks in football in Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers has been excellent this season, throwing for 2,684 yards with 24 TD and just four INT. He was, however, lousy in the Packers’ loss to the Bears in their most recent game, throwing for just 202 yards with one TD and one INT. He will need to be a lot better against the Lions on Thursday.
One player that can really give this team a boost is RB Eddie Lacy. After a straight up embarrassing start to the season, Lacy has churned out 205 rushing yards on 39 carries over the past two weeks. The Lions have a very tough run defense, so Lacy will need to use his power to fight for extra yards and take some pressure off of the passing game.
The Lions have looked rejuvenated in recent weeks and QB Matt Stafford is showing the Detroit front office that he should definitely stick around next season. Stafford threw for 337 yards with five TD and zero INT against the Eagles a week ago and has thrown just one INT in the past three contests.
Part of his resurgence has been due to the play of WR Calvin Johnson, who caught three TD in the win over the Eagles on Thanksgiving. It hasn’t been just the offense, though, as this team has allowed just 43 points total over the past three weeks.
This Lions defensive unit allowed just 16 points the last time they faced the Packers and will be looking to come up with a similar effort on Thursday.
