Betting Odds
Two teams trying to add another victory to a disappointing losing record square-off this Monday night when the Detroit Lions go on the road to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome to face the New Orleans Saints. Kickoff for this game is slated for 8:30 p.m. (ET) and it will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.
The Lions were coming off a run to the playoffs last season, but they never got off the ground with five straight-up losses to start the year while going 1-4 against the spread. After a brief flurry of wins, they have now dropped their last two games both SU and ATS to fall to 4-9 both ways on the year. The total stayed UNDER 42 in last Sunday’s 21-14 loss to St. Louis as three-point road favorites and it has now stayed UNDER in three of their last five games.
Detroit’s issues this season have been pretty much across the board with an offense that is ranked 23rd in the NFL in scoring with 20.5 points a game complementing a defense that is 28th in points allowed (25.8). Matthew Stafford has put-up some decent numbers this season with 3,409 yards passing and 24 touchdown throws, but the Lions’ running game is ranked last in the league with just 79.3 yards a game. Stopping the run has been a major problem for this defense with an average of 115.9 yards allowed that is ranked 22nd.
New Orleans was another team that came into this season with high expectations that never materialized. It dropped five of its first six games SU while going 2-4 ATS. The Saints did knock-off Tampa Bay this past Sunday 24-17 as 5.5-point road underdogs to improve to 5-8 SU and 6-6-1 ATS. The total stayed UNDER the 51.5-point closing line in that game after going OVER in four of their previous five outings.
With Drew Brees still under center you know that New Orleans is going to be able to move the ball through the air. The offense is averaging 301. 2 passing yards a game, which is the second-highest total in the league. The running game drops-off to 24th with 93.8 yards a game and overall the Saints are ranked 11th in the NFL in scoring (24.8 points). This is another team that has been severely hampered by its defense. This unit is giving-up 30.5 points a game to rank dead last in the league and it is ranked 31st in total yards allowed (414.8). The win over Tampa Bay was the first time this season New Orleans held a team to fewer than 20 points.
The Lions are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 road games, but they have covered in four of their last five Monday night games. The total has gone OVER in five of their last seven conference games.
The Saints are 6-2 ATS in their last eight games on Monday night, but they have failed to cover in their last six games against a team with a SU losing record. The total has gone OVER in three of their last four home games.
Head-to-head in this conference tilt, the favorite has covered in four of the last five meetings and the total has gone OVER in two of the last three games.
