New England Patriots at Detroit Lions, Ford Field, Detroit, MI
Thursday, November 25, 2010, 12:30 pm EST, TV: CBS
Opening Line: Patriots -6.5
Current Line: Patriots -6.5
Opening Total: 51
Current Total: 51
Money Line: Patriots -300 / Lions +250
The New England Patriots (8-2) hope to avoid a letdown when they visit the Detroit Lions (2-8) on Thursday in the opener of a Thanksgiving Day tripleheader. The Patriots (-6.5) edged Indianapolis 31-28 last week thanks in part to three interceptions from Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and now face a Detroit team that has won two of its last three home games.
The Lions had their two-game home winning streak snapped with a disappointing 23-20 overtime loss to the Jets in Week 9. They led 20-10 early in the fourth quarter before New York QB Mark Sanchez led a comeback that saw Nick Folk tie the game at the end of regulation with a 36-yard field and then connect on a game-winning 30-yarder in OT.
Detroit saw its NFL-record road losing streak extended to 26 games with a 35-19 loss at Dallas last week and has failed to beat the spread in two straight after covering seven of the first eight. Penalties have killed the Lions, who have committed 10 or more in seven of the last eight games. They committed 10 for 76 yards against the Cowboys, but head coach Jim Schwartz has denied that his team lacks discipline. Regardless, that could further complicate things on Thursday against a disciplined team like the Patriots.
Schwartz gambled a bit by playing rookie running back Jahvid Best, who is still recovering from turf toe injuries on both of his feet and questionable to play against New England. Best carried the ball just three times for two yards and added four catches for 15 yards against Dallas. He has rushed for more than 50 yards only once since Week 2, which is also the last time he scored a touchdown.
With Best limited, the Patriots will need to do a better job stopping the pass since Detroit quarterback Shaun Hill figures to attack them through the air. Hill is also expected to be without tight end Tony Scheffler due to a rib injury, but he threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns against the Cowboys and still has some weapons in wide receivers Calvin Johnson and Nate Burleson along with tight end Brandon Pettigrew.
New England leads the NFL in scoring with 28.9 points per game but the team’s pass defense has been suspect. The Patriots have one of the league’s youngest secondaries, and they are surrendering 289.6 passing yards per game. That ranks second-to-last in the NFL, and Manning nearly rallied the Colts back from a 31-14 deficit with four total touchdown passes.
The Pats ran the ball extremely well against Indy behind running backs Danny Woodhead and BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who combined for 165 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The duo could be an important factor here against a Lions team has is giving up 130.6 yards per game on the ground.
The OVER has cashed in New England’s last four games and in six of seven for Detroit. The Patriots are 3-1 straight-up and against the spread in their last four road games while the Lions are 4-0 ATS at home this season despite going 2-2 SU there.
Now that you have read this sports betting preview featuring the Patriots vs. Lions, be sure to check out the NFL odds on all the Thanksgiving Day games and compare the best lines at multiple sportsbooks.
