NFC Conference Matchup
Point Spread: Lions -4 | Total Points: 46.5
Coming into this week’s NFC matchup vs the Saints, the Lions have an above .500 record at 8-3. In their last game, the Lions played host to the Packers and lost by a score of 29-22. Along with their outright defeat, the Lions couldn’t cover the spread despite being favored by 8.5. Totaling 51 points alongside Green Bay, the game’s point total exceeded the set over/under line of 47.
This week, the Saints will look to snap their current two-game losing streak with a victory over the Lions. Heading into action, the team has a below .500 record of 5-6. The Saints are coming off a 24-15 loss to the Falcons. Besides their loss in the game, the Saints couldn’t cover the spread despite being 2 point favorites. In the Saints’ latest game, the under bettors were correct as the teams totaled 39 points, below the line of 42 points.
Detroit Lions vs New Orleans Saints History
The last three times the Lions have traveled to take on the Saints, they are 2-1. Across the last three head-to-head matchups between the Lions and Saints, the teams have averaged 64 points per game with an over/under record of 2-1. The last three times they have faced off with the Saints as the home team, the OU record is 2-1.
- When looking at their past three road matchups, Detroit has an ATS record of 2-1 while averaging 22 per game. The team went 2-1 overall in these games.
- In their last ten games at home, the Saints have a straight-up record of 5-5 while going 5-4-1 vs the spread. The team’s offense averaged 20 points per game in these contests.
- Looking back on the team’s last ten games as the underdog, the Saints have a straight-up record of 4-6. Their record vs the spread in these games was 5-5.
- Through their last five games as the favorite, the Lions have an ATS record of 3-2 and a straight-up mark of 4-1.
Notable Injuries
Detroit Lions
- Halapoulivaati Vaitai – Back (Out)
- Nate Sudfeld – Knee (Out)
- Scott Daly – Knee (Out)
- Jason Cabinda – Knee (Out)
- C.J. Gardner-Johnson – Pectoral (Out)
- Emmanuel Moseley – Knee (Out)
- Mohamed Ibrahim – Hip (Out)
- Shane Zylstra – Knee (Out)
- Jonah Jackson – Ankle/wrist (Probable)
- Matt Nelson – Ankle (Out)
- James Houston – Ankle (Out)
- Hendon Hooker – Knee (Questionable)
- Zonovan Knight – Shoulder (Out)
- Alex Anzalone – Hand (Questionable)
- Tracy Walker III – Shoulder (Probable)
- David Montgomery – Foot (Probable)
- Frank Ragnow – Back/toe (Questionable)
New Orleans Saints
- Cameron Jordan – Ankle (Questionable)
- Trai Turner – Quadriceps (Out)
- Marshon Lattimore – Ankle (Out)
- Michael Thomas – Knee (Out)
- Ryan Connelly – Knee (Out)
- Payton Turner – Toe (Out)
- Chris Olave – Concussion (Questionable)
- Andrew Dowell – Knee (Out)
- Eno Benjamin – Achilles (Out)
- Blake Grupe – Right Groin (Questionable)
- Ryan Ramczyk – Knee (Questionable)
- Marcus Maye – Shoulder (Questionable)
- Erik McCoy – Shoulder (Questionable)
- Pete Werner – Shoulder/oblique (Questionable)
- Rashid Shaheed – Thigh (Questionable)
- Kendre Miller – Ankle (Questionable)
- Shaquan Davis – Undisclosed (Out)
Keys To Victory: Detroit Lions
This season, the Detroit offense has an average of 26.7 points, placing them 6th in the league. A strength of this year’s team has been their offensive line, as they have only allowed sacks on 4.9% of the team’s passing attempts. This strong protection has helped the team average 268.5 yards per game through the air. At 136.9 rushing yards per game, the Lions are 6th in the NFL. This figure has come on an average of 29.8 attempts (7th).
Keys To Victory: New Orleans Saints
Coming into week 13, the Saints offense is 16th in the league at 20.8 points per contest. A key to the team’s success in the passing game is the fact that they are one of the better units at pushing the ball down the field. So far, New Orleans is 12th in the NFL in yards per completion. This has led to an average of 242.7 yards per game through the air. The Saints hold the 18th position in the NFL with 104.4 rushing yards per game. This average has come on an average of 27.7 rushing attempts (11th).
Betting Trends
- In their last three road games, Detroit has averaged 22 points per game while allowing 27. The team’s record in this stretch was 2-1 while going 2-1 vs. the spread.
- In their last three games at home, the Saints have a straight-up record of 1-2 while going 1-2 vs. the spread. The team averaged 24 points per game in this stretch.
- As the betting underdog, the Saints have an ATS record of 3-0 in their last three games. In these matchups, their straight up record was 3-0.
- Through their last three matchups as the betting favorite, the Lions have a good straight-up record, but their ATS mark is just 1-2.
Prediction
- Detroit Lions 24 – New Orleans Saints 22
