Detroit Lions vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: NFL Week 11 Betting Odds and Picks

Detroit Lions vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday, 11/17/13, 1:00 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Detroit -3
Current Betting Line: Detroit -3
Opening Total: 47.5
Current Total: 45.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Detroit Lions are 3-1 SUATS as road favorites of three or fewer points this season

Detroit has won back-to-back games, including a 21-19 victory over the Chicago Bears as one-point road favorites in Week 10, while going UNDER the betting total for the first time in four contests. The Lions haven’t been in first place in any division after Week 10 since 1999, which is important to consider when making your NFL betting picks, as they try to secure their first division title in 20 years. Offensively, the team is led by quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Calvin Johnson, with each player en route to landing in the Pro Bowl. Detroit is 3-1 SUATS as a road favorite of three points or less during the 2013 campaign, with the UNDER going 3-1 in that situation.

The Lions will definitely be challenged by the Steelers in this affair, considering their Sunday opponent has limited foes to 201.3 passing yards per game, which is tied for the league’s fourth-best mark. Detroit’s defensive front led by defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairly have held its last three oppoennts to a combined 157 yards on the ground, which sets up well against a porous Steelers rushing attack.

Pittsburgh will aim to win back-to-back games for just the second time this season, as it comes off a 23-10 victory over the Buffalo Bills as three-point home favorites last Sunday, while going UNDER the betting total for the fourth time in five contests. The Steelers need quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to elevate his play, as his 87.6 passer rating is his lowest in five seasons, but he’s been sacked 35 times for the NFL’s second-highest total. Pittsburgh is 3-8 SU and 3-7-1 ATS as an underdog the last two-plus seasons, with the UNDER going 6-5 in those 11 opportunities.

The Steelers got after the Bills from a defensive standpoint last week—holding them to an opponent season-low 227 total yards. Pittsburgh has lost the statistical battle in five of nine games this season, with most of the disparity coming on the ground.