Week 9 Preview: Detroit at Green Bay NFL Lines & Expert Prediction

Week 9 Preview: Detroit at Green Bay NFL Lines & Expert Prediction

Written by on November 3, 2017

Here’s something you don’t see often, in fact this will only be the second time since 1991: the Lions are NFL lines favorites at the Packers even though Detroit has lost 25 of its past 26 games in Wisconsin. But this Green Bay Packers team is missing a certain superstar.

Week 9 Preview: Detroit at Green Bay NFL Lines & Expert Prediction

When: Monday, 8:30 PM ET Where: Lambeau Field TV: ESPN Radio: WJR 760 AM (Detroit) / WTMJ-AM 620 (Green Bay) Stream Option: NFL Live Opening NFL Lines: Lions -2.5 (43)

Last Season

The Packers swept Detroit. In Week 3 at Lambeau, it was 34-27. Aaron Rodgers threw for 205 yards and four touchdowns, including two in the first half to Jordy Nelson. Rodgers was 15 of 24, leading the Packers to touchdowns on their first three series. It was 31-3 late in the first half. Matthew Stafford passed for 385 yards and three scores for the Lions, who held advantages in total yardage (418-324) and time of possession, holding the ball for 35 minutes. In Week 17 in Detroit for the NFC North title, the Packers won 31-24. Rodgers threw for 300 yards and four scores. Stafford was 26 of 41 for 347 yards with two TDs and an interception. The Packers lead the regular-season series, 98-68-7 (.590), and have won both postseason contests the two have played. Green Bay’s 98 wins over the Lions are the most the Packers have against any team. The Packers have won 19 of the last 23 against Detroit and 27 of the last 33 in the series.

Top NFL Week 9 Picks to Bet Straight-Up

Series History

  • Total Meetings: 175
  • First Meeting: November 2nd, 1930. City Stadium. Green Bay, Wisconsin
  • Last Meeting: January 1st, 2017. Ford Field. Detroit, Michigan
  • All-Time Series: Green Bay Packers 100-68-7
  • Largest Margin of Victory:  Green Bay 50-7 (1940)
  • Longest Win Streak: Detroit 11 ( 1949-1954)
  • Current Win Streak: Green Bay 3 (2015-2017)

Why Bet On Detroit?

Well, the Lions don’t have to deal with Rodgers, who likely is out for the season with his broken collarbone. The last time Rodgers missed a game against the Lions, things got ugly for the Packers. Back in 2013, the Lions put a 40-10 beatdown on the Packers, who had to start Matt Flynn because Rodgers had broken his collarbone then too. But that game was in Detroit. The Lions enter on a three-game skid following a 20-15 loss vs. Pittsburgh last Sunday night. The Lions had 482 yards yet could only manage five Matt Prater field goals. It was the third-highest yardage total without a TD, dating back to 1940. The Lions’ total trailed only Cincinnati’s 496 yards against Seattle in 1994 and San Francisco’s 501 against Washington in 1986. Matthew Stafford completed a season-high eight passes of 15 or more yards downfield, including at least one such pass on four of the Lions’ five scoring drives. But in the eight career games that Stafford has passed for more than 400 yards, he has thrown for one or no touchdowns four times. Here’s Stafford on playing at Lambeau Field: “I love it. I love playing there.” He’s 1-5 at Lambeau Field and it’s the only place he’s played in at least four times without winning at least twice. Stafford is 3-10 against Green Bay in his career. He’s also played well in Green Bay, too, averaging 315 yards with 15 passing touchdowns and five interceptions.

Team Statistics

Offense:
  • Average Score For: 25.14
  • Total Yards: 324.28
  • Pass Yards: 242.14
  • Rush Yards: 82.14
Defense:
  • Average Score Against: 24.14
  • Total Yards: 346.28
  • Pass Yards: 254.71
  • Rush Yards: 91.57

Why Bet On Green Bay?

The Packers are off their bye week and play their second full game without Rodgers. Brett Hundley will make his second career start on Monday against the Lions at Lambeau Field. The third-year former fifth-round pick from UCLA completed just 12 of 25 passes for 87 yards with no touchdowns and an interception in his first start, a 26-17 loss to the Saints on Oct. 22. The Packers’ bye followed that game, giving Coach Mike McCarthy and Hundley the chance to spend extra time together to review that game and formulate a plan for this week. Green Bay has won three consecutive games on MNF, including a 27-13 win over Philadelphia last season. It will be the third time the Packers and Lions have met on MNF and the first since 1972. The previous four times the Packers have lost heading into the bye, they have won each game immediately following the bye. Three of the four games took place at home against division opponents (2014 vs. Chicago, 2009 and 2013 vs. Detroit). Are the Packers a safe bet in Week 9? Green Bay will face an NFC opponent for the seventh time after the bye since 2006, and it will be the sixth time the Packers play a team from the NFC North. The Packers have won each of the six previous matchups against NFC teams in the week after the bye. Green Bay has an 18-4 overall mark (.818) and a 10-1 home record (.909) against Detroit under McCarthy.

Team Statistics

Offense:
  • Average Score For: 23.43
  • Total Yards: 310
  • Pass Yards: 208.43
  • Rush Yards: 101.57
Defense:
  • Average Score Against: 23
  • Total Yards: 348.85
  • Pass Yards: 223.14
  • Rush Yards: 125.71

Latest NFL Lines Trends

  • Lions are 1-4 ATS in the last 5 games
  • Lions are 1-4 SU in the last 5 games
  • The total went UNDER in 12 of Detroit’s last 18 games
  • Packers are 2-4 ATS in the last 6 games
  • Packers are 12-4 SU in the last 16 games
  • The total went OVER in 11 of Green Bay’s last 14 games

Expert Prediction & NFL Pick for Week 9

Tough call here because the Lions don’t play well at Lambeau often. I’d buy that number up to 3.5 and take the rested Packers in the NFL lines.