NFL Week 3 Picks: Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions
Sunday, 9/21/14, 1:00 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Detroit -1
Current Betting Line: Detroit -3
Opening Total: 52
Current Total: 52
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

Green Bay has owned Detroit with Aaron Rodgers under center

Green Bay has split its first two games of the season, as it looks to build off a 31-24 victory over the New York Jets as seven-point home favorites Sunday, while going OVER the betting total in each of those contests. Dating back to 2000, the Packers are 5-1 against the Lions in the month of September, which is important to consider when making your NFL betting picks. It’s also important to point out that the franchise is 14-2 SU in this series under head coach Mike McCarthy. Green Bay is 2-9 SU and 2-8-1 ATS as underdogs the last two-plus seasons.

The Packers are 9-1 against the Lions with quarterback Aaron Rodgers as the starter, which can’t be ignored when looking over the NFL betting odds. Rogers has registered a 100-plus passer rating in eight games against the Lions—throwing for at least two touchdowns in seven of those affairs. Green Bay has put together a 35-12-1 SU regular-season record against NFC North foes during the McCarthy era.

Detroit returns home after suffering a 24-7 setback to the Carolina Panthers as one-point road underdogs last week, but it has won the statistical battle in both of its contests. The Lions are certainly capable of bouncing back due to having Calvin Johnson on the field, as he’s racked up a league-leading 1,739 receiving yards since last year. It can’t be ignored that the squad is averaging just 3.0 yards per carry this season, but does face a Green Bay defense that ranks 31st in the league in stopping the run. Detroit is 2-7 SU and 1-8 ATS in games with a betting total of 49.5 or higher since 2012.

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford has compiled a disappointing 1-6 mark against the Packers—throwing 13 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He’ll target Johnson in a big way against one of its biggest rivals, as he’s hauled in 32 passes for 606 yards during a four-game stretch in the series.