Lions Bills Betting – Lions Roar In Battle Of Lowly Teams
Online betting players may not be able to get excited for Sunday’s matchup between the Buffalo Bills and the Detroit Lions, but you can make some cash by betting on the underdog, which is the Lions in this case. The Lions have shown far more improvement than the winless Bills, and they’re going to get their struggling rushing attack off the ground against the worst run defense in the league.
- What: NFL betting
- When: Sunday, November 14th, 1:00 PM ET
- Where: Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, NY
- Pick: Detroit Lions +3
What’s On The Line
The Lions (2-6) fell 23-20 in overtime at home to the Jets, and they’ve now lost five of their games by eight points or less, which shows improvement, but it has to be maddening. Meanwhile, the Bills (0-8) put up a good effort in a 22-19 loss in Toronto to the Chicago Bears, but it wasn’t enough. The Lions would love to hand the Bills a loss, so Buffalo could join their 2008 team in history as the only winless teams in the NFL. Basically, pride is what is on the line in this game.
Offensive Matchups: Lions Bills Betting
Detroit’s offense has been decent with Matt Stafford in the lineup, but that could change as Stafford is out with a shoulder injury and he could be gone for the season. That puts Shaun Hill back in the saddle, but he’s just coming off an injury himself. Hill has been pretty good this year when he’s played, and he has tons of weapons in Calvin Johnson, who will be up for it after he was shut down by the New York Jets, and Brandon Pettigrew, who is emerging as a great tight end. But the Lions need to improve on their 30th-ranked rushing attack.
Ryan Fitzpatrick actually looked good against the Bears, with the exception of a couple of picks, and Steve Johnson came out of nowhere with 11 catches for 145 yards, but the Buffalo offense is woefully short on weapons, and they don’t give rookie C.J. Spiller nearly enough touches. Spiller, and maybe now Johnson, are the only explosive weapons that the Bills have, but can they even count on Fitzpatrick to boost an offense that is 26th in the NFL?
Betting Edge: Lions
Defensive Matchups: Lions Bills Betting
The Lions are one spot ahead of Buffalo in defense rankings, coming in 25th, but they at least have a bonafide star in Ndamokung Suh, who should be given the Defensive Rookie of the Year award right now. Suh demands a double team from the offensive line, which frees up someone else. The Lions did a good job against the Jets’ ground game, but Mark Sanchez ate them up for 327 yards. They’re coming along slowly, but Detroit’s defense is getting better.
Buffalo has a few solid players on this side of the ball, led by linebacker Paul Posluszny and safety Jairus Byrd, but they have no pass rush with only 12 sacks. This means the secondary is often left in coverage too long, which leads to breakdowns and big plays by the other team. After five straight games of allowing 30 points or more, the Bills have given up 35 points in their last two games, and they have to be better to give their team a chance to win.
Betting Edge: Draw
Notable Injuries: Lions Bills Betting
Stafford (shoulder) is definitely out, but Hill is a capable backup. Defensive end Cliff Avril (quadriceps) is also out for the Lions.
Wide receiver Roscoe Parrish (wrist) is gone for the season.
Betting Edge: Draw
Outlook and Pick: Lions Bills Betting
NFL betting odds have the Bills as a 3-point favorite, and they are 2-1 SU in three games at home against Detroit since 1991, but 1-2 ATS. The Bills may have an edge if it’s cold out because Detroit is a dome team, but it won’t be much to get excited about. The Lions have to get something going on the ground as Buffalo is last in the league against the run, but Hill should have time in the pocket to make plays. As for the Buffalo offense, don’t expect much. They just seem to make too many mistakes at crucial times, and the jury is out on Fitzpatrick (it probably always will be). Take Detroit against the sports betting spread.
Stan’s Pick: Detroit Lions
