NFL Betting Preview: Detroit Lions at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Detroit Lions at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sunday, 9/11/11, 1:00 PM EST, TV: FOX
Opening Point Spread: Tampa Bay -3
Current Betting Line: Tampa Bay -1.5
Opening Total: 40.5
Current Total: 41
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Detroit Lions were the only NFL team to finish the preseason with a 4-0 ATS mark

Detroit is coming off a much-talked about preseason by finishing with a 4-0 SU and ATS mark, which included a 34-10 blowout win over the New England Patriots as 3.5-point home underdogs. Head coach Jim Schwartz is trying to temper expectations heading into the regular season opener. “I don’t know when the playoffs start, but they don’t start on Sept. 11,” Schwartz stated. “If our eyes are on Tampa Bay then our eyes are on the right thing.” Bettors will likely be drawn to backing this team during the season due to scoring 30 or more points in three of four exhibition contests. Detroit is 6-7 ATS on the road the last two years.

The Lions are hoping quarterback Matthew Stafford can play the 2011 campaign without injury, as he’s managed to play in just 13 games in his first two years. Detroit’s No. 1 pick in the 2009 draft has completed 77.4 percent of his passes for 356 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions during the preseason. It’s an explosive offense with plenty of weapons, including tight end Brandon Pettigrew and wide receiver Calvin Johnson. On the other side of the ball, all discussions begin and end with defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors a year ago.

Tampa Bay just missed a chance of making the NFL playoffs with a 10-6 record in coach Raheem Morris’ second year and finished the preseason with a 2-2 SU and ATS record. The Buccaneers will be seeking revenge from a 23-20 loss against the Lions as 3.5-point home favorites last year. The defense was atrocious in the contest in allowing 181 rushing yards and 433 yards overall. Many draft picks have been spent on fixing up holes in the unit and it seems to have worked primarily during the exhibition season. Tampa Bay is 3-11 ATS at home the last two seasons.

The Buccaneers managed to average just 1.6 sacks per game last year and selected three big-time players to help increase that total from the defensive line especially. Tampa Bay has racked up 14 sacks during four preseason games and Morris is encouraged about the defense’s effort. “They look good,” he commented. “Those guys are fired up.” Offensively, third-year quarterback Josh Freeman is coming in off a 25-touchdown, six interception campaign. He threw for 251 yards and a touchdown in last year’s meeting.