Detroit Lions at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL
Sunday, December 19, 2010, 1:00 pm EST, TV: FOX
Opening Line: Bucs -4.5
Current Line: Bucs -5.5
Opening Total: 41.5
Current Total: 40
Money Line: Bucs -240 / Lions +200
The Detroit Lions (3-10) will attempt to snap their NFL-record 26-game road losing streak on Sunday when they visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5). The Lions broke another dubious skid last week when they beat an NFC North opponent for the first time in 20 games, earning a 7-3 home victory against Green Bay. Meanwhile, the Bucs (-5.5) got a bit of luck when Washington missed an extra point that would have tied their game. Tampa Bay escaped with a 17-16 win.
Detroit hopes to get quarterback Shaun Hill back from a finger injury, which was suffered in a 45-24 loss to New England on Thanksgiving Day. Hill was replaced by third-stringer Drew Stanton, who has played good enough in two starts to at least earn one victory. Stanton threw for 117 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions last week against the Packers and added 44 more yards on the ground.
The Lions also did a solid job of running the ball against Green Bay, rushing for 190 yards on 41 carries. Rookie Jahvid Best had his most carries since Week 10 with 13 and finished with 38 rushing yards while Maurice Morris led the team with a game-high 51 yards on 11 attempts.
The Buccaneers have relied on their running game as well lately to grind out close wins, and last Sunday’s game was no different. Rookie running back LeGarrette Blount carried the ball 15 times for 68 yards to help them improve to 5-0 in games decided by three points or less while second-year quarterback Josh Freeman passed for 266 and Tampa Bay’s only touchdown.
Freeman’s development has been the key to the team’s turnaround this year, as he has thrown just one interception in the last five games to go along with seven touchdowns. However, injuries could literally hurt Tampa’s playoff chances down the stretch. The Buccaneers lost rookie defensive tackle Gerald McCoy (torn left biceps) and linebacker Quincy Black (broken forearm) one week after center Jeff Faine and cornerback Aquib Talib went on Injured Reserve.
Tampa Bay is 5-1-1 against the spread in its last seven games overall but is just 1-6 ATS in the last seven meetings with Detroit despite winning five of those games. The Lions have covered their last two games after losing three in a row ATS. They are 9-4 ATS this year with the OVER cashing in eight of their last 10.
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