Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears
Sunday, 11/13/11, 4:15 PM EST, TV: FOX
Opening Point Spread: Chicago -2.5
Current Betting Line: Chicago -3
Opening Total: 47
Current Total: 43.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
Detroit will aim to sweep its NFC North division rival Sunday after tallying a 24-13 victory on Monday Night Football earlier this year as a 6.5-point home favorites. The Lions are coming off a bye week and will be playing their second consecutive road game, tallying a 45-10 victory over the Denver Broncos before the break as three point favorites. With Green Bay being the only undefeated team in the NFL, it’s likely that the franchise is focused in on a Wild Card spot. Detroit is 2-0 ATS as a road underdog of three points or less this season.
The Lions will need to come off the week of rest with a different attitude against the run, allowing their last seven opponents to rush for over the century mark, while ranking 28th in the league. Detroit has one of the more talented pass-catch combinations in the league with quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Calvin Johnson. The MVP candidate has been targeted 74 times this year, with Johnson catching 47 passes. The passing attack will likely have to win the game, as starting running back Jahvid best will be out for a third straight game.
Chicago has been playing great football in notching three consecutive wins, including a 30-24 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles as nine-point road underdogs on last week’s Monday Night Football broadcast. It’s important to note that the Bears won the statistical battle in all of those contests after being out-gained in their first five games. Running back Matt Forte continues to be one of the more dominant offensive players in the league, coming in with four 100-yard games in six meetings with the Lions. Chicago is 3-0 ATS this season when the betting odds are three points on either side.
The Bears offensive game plan has changed for the better in featuring Forte, as he’s gained 365 yards on 5.5 yards per carry. It’s taken a lot of the pressure off starting quarterback Jay Cutler, who has thrown for six touchdowns and just two interceptions in the past four games. The offensive line has allowed just three sacks in the past three games, which is a dramatic improvement from watching Cutler fall to the ground 14 times in the first three games of the 2011 campaign.
Bettors will likely back the Lions due to their 7-3 ATS mark in the last 10 meetings, while the Bears are 6-10 ATS when playing a team with a winning record.
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