The New England Patriots and the Detroit Lions take center stage on Sunday Night Football in Week 3. BetOnline has opened the Patriots as 6.5-point road favorites with the total line set at 51.5 points.
Sunday’s schedule in Week 3 of the regular season closes things out with an inter-conference clash between the 1-1 New England Patriots and the 0-2 Detroit Lines in an 8:15 p.m. start at Ford Field. ESPN will carry the game nationally.
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New England at Detroit Overview
The Patriots started the season with a 27-20 home victory against Houston as 6.5-point favorites, but their first road game as two-point favorites ended in a 31-20 loss to Jacksonville, which was a rematch of last season’s AFC title game. The total went OVER 44.5 points in that game after staying UNDER in their last four games on the road. Despite the loss, New England is still 14-4 against the spread in its last 18 road games.
Tom Brady is in mid-season form with 511 yards passing and five touchdown throws in his first two games. As expected, tight end Rob Gronkowski leads the team in receiving yards (138), but running back James White leads the way in receptions with 11. The Patriots’ ground game is averaging 3.7 yards per carry on 55 rushing attempts. Rex Burkhead has carried the load with 86 yards on 24 rushing attempts.
Detroit was second in the NFC North last season at 9-7, just missing the playoffs. With expectations set higher for this season, it already finds itself in a 0-2 hole with losses to the New York Jets at home and San Francisco on the road. The Jets stunned the Lions 48-17 in Week 1 as seven-point favorites. As six-point underdogs against the 49ers, they were able to cover in a 30-27 loss. The total went OVER in both games and it has gone OVER in eight of Detroit’s last 11 games.
After a dismal showing against New York, veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford returned to form last Sunday with 347 yards passing and three touchdown throws. He completed 34 of his 53 passing attempts. It will be interesting to see what kind of tricks new head coach Matt Patricia has rolled up his sleeve after serving as New England’s offensive coordinator the previous season.
New England at Detroit Betting Trends
- The Patriots have gone 8-1 ATS in their last nine games against a team with a SU losing record and they are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games coming off an ATS loss. The total has stayed UNDER in five of their last seven games following a SU loss.
- The Lions are 5-15-1 ATS in their last 21 games in Week 3 of the season and they are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games on turf. The total has gone OVER in five of their last six games following a SU loss.
- The favorite in this matchup has gone 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings with the total going OVER in three of those five games.
Get more details: New England at Detroit NFL Match-Up
