Total line: 58.5
The Detroit Lions return to the postseason for the first time since 1999 to square-off against the New Orleans Saints this Saturday night in the Superdome in the Wildcard Round of the NFL playoffs. The game is slated to get underway at 8 p.m. (ET) and it will be broadcast nationally on NBC.
Detroit’s season has been filled with a number of ups and downs, but a 10-6 straight-up record was good enough to earn the sixth-seed in the playoffs in the NFC. The Lions were 7-7-2 against the spread this season overall and 3-3-2 ATS on the road. The total went ‘over’ in 10 of their 16 games and in seven of their eight games on the road.
The Lions only chance in this game will be for quarterback Matthew Stafford, wide receiver Calvin Johnson, and the rest of the offense to put on their fastest track shoes and try and match the Saints score for score all night long. This is not that far-fetched considering that Detroit finished the season ranked fifth in the NFL in total yards per game and fourth in scoring with an average of 29.6 points a game.
New Orleans cruised through the second half of the regular season with eight victories both SU and ATS in eight games. It finished the year 13-3 SU and a very profitable 12-4 ATS. The Saints were unbeatable in the friendly confines of the Superdome this season with a perfect 8-0 record SU and ATS. The total went 9-7 overall and 5-3 at home.
Drew Brees comes into this game arguably playing the best football in his illustrious 11-year NFL career. He broke Dan Marino’s single-season passing record with 5,476 yards while throwing 46 touchdowns and completing an amazing 71.2 percent of his passes. He actually completed 80 percent of his throws in two of his last three games.
Detroit is 0-3-1 ATS in its last four road games and 1-4-1 ATS in its last six games overall. The total has gone ‘over’ in five of its last seven games as road underdogs.
New Orleans is 11-1 ATS in its last 12 home games and 7-0 ATS in its last seven games against the NFC. The total has gone ‘over’ in six of their last eight games in the postseason.
Head-to-head, the Saints have won the last three games both SU and ATS including a 31-17 rout in Week 13 as nine-point home favorites. The total stayed ‘under’ the 55-point line. The Lions should be able to put some points on the board against a less-than-stout Saints’ defense, but it will not be nearly as many points as New Orleans will pin on them.
The Pick: New Orleans 34 Detroit 20
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