Pro Football Picks: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Detroit Lions

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Detroit Lions
Sunday, 10/20/13, 1:00 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Detroit -2.5
Current Betting Line: Detroit -2.5
Opening Total: 46
Current Total: 46.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Detroit Lions are 2-0 SUATS at home this season

Cincinnati is along in first place in the AFC North Division for the first time this season, as it has won back-to-back games, including a 27-24 overtime victory over the Buffalo Bills as six-point road favorites Sunday. The Bengals gained 483 total yards of offense in that affair, with wide receiver A.J. Green having a big day, as he finished with six catches for 103 yards and a touchdown. The franchise has won four consecutive games in this series, which is important to consider when making your pro football picks in Week 7. Cincinnati is 4-2 SU and 5-0-1 ATS as road underdogs of three points or less the last two-plus seasons.

The Bengals are 8-2 against teams from the NFC North under the direction of head coach Marvin Lewis, including a pair of wins against the Lions. Cincinnati ranks tied for fifth offensively in red-zone touchdown percentage, while its opponent this week is one of three teams that rank in the Top 10 in both offense and defensive scoring percentage in that particular category. For the second straight week, the squad ranks eighth in the NFL in allowing just 317.7 yards per game.

Detroit heads home for back-to-back games at Ford Field, as it comes off a 31-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns as one-point road favorites last week, but the team has been out-gained in its last three affairs. The Lions are 4-2 going into Week 7—having already played half their road schedule. “We need to get back to that home crowd,” stated Lions head coach Jim Schwartz. On the defensive end, the unit ranks second in the league in third-down defense, as it has allowed opponents to convert on just 22-of-77 attempts in that category. Detroit is 2-0 SUATS at home this season, with the OVER cashing in both of those opportunities.

The Lions’ 13 takeaways ranks tied for fourth in the league, which is a bit surprising due to finishing 27th in that category a season ago. Detroit is certainly explosive offensively, with quarterback Matthew Stafford coming off his seventh career game with four-plus touchdowns. Wide receiver Calvin Johnson figures to be Stafford’s main target, as he caught six passes for 123 yards and a score in the last meeting in this series on Dec. 6, 2009.