NFL Week 8 Predictions: Seattle Seahawks vs. Detroit Lions

Seattle Seahawks at Detroit Lions
Sunday, 10/28/12, 1:00 PM EST, TV: FOX
Opening Point Spread: Detroit -3
Current Betting Line: Detroit -2.5
Opening Total: 43.5
Current Total: 43
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Detroit Lions need WR Calvin Johnson to break out on Sunday

Seattle has had a couple extra days off to prepare for this NFC affair, as it comes off a 13-6 loss to the San Francisco 49ers as 7.5-point road underdogs on Oct. 8, while going UNDER the total for the sixth time in seven games. The Seahawks are 1-3 away from CenturyLink Field this season, with rookie quarterback Russell Wilson throwing for two touchdowns and seven interceptions. Seattle is 3-3 ATS as a road underdog of three points or less over the last two-plus seasons, with the UNDER going 4-3 in that situation.

The Seahawks have been focusing on trying to get more points in the red zone in practice this week, as they’ve kicked 10 field goals and scored six touchdowns in 20 trips inside the 20-yard line. Seattle has won three consecutive games in this series, including a 32-20 victory as 11-point home favorites on Nov. 8, 2009, as it won the statistical battle by a 97-yard margin.

Detroit has struggled inside the red zone as well this season, which is a bit surprising after ranking in the top-five in that particular category the last two seasons. The Lions have managed to score points in just 17 of 24 trips this season. “It’s been tough,” stated Lions star wide receiver Calvin Johnson. He was held to season lows of three catches and 34 yards in the team’s 13-7 loss to the Chicago Bears as 6.5-point road underdogs on ESPN’s Monday Night Football. Detroit is 6-2 ATS off a loss against a division rival, with the OVER going 6-2 in that situation.

The Lions will need a major performance out of quarterback Matthew Stafford, who actually threw a career-worst five interceptions in that aforementioned loss against the Seahawks. Detroit opened the 2011 campaign with a perfect 5-0 record, but has tallied a disappointing 7-11 record since that stretch. It’s truly a must-win situation in the Motor City, especially when you consider that only 18 of 28 teams that started with a 2-4 record have made the playoffs.