Atlanta Falcons at Detroit Lions: betting odds, preview, trends, pick

The Atlanta Falcons are 9-3 ATS in their last dozen games against the Detroit Lions and can lock up the top seed in the NFC with another win over the Lions this Saturday at Ford Field.

Atlanta was a 4-point road favorite at most sportsbooks tracked by OddsShark.com as of midweek.

Perhaps due to their lack of playoff success in recent years, fans and bettors still seem to be hesitant to accept the Atlanta Falcons as a legitimate favorite to win the Super Bowl. But the Falcons can’t make a much bolder case than they did last week, crushing the New York Giants 34-0 at home.

With the win, Atlanta improved to an NFL-best 12-2 SU and a respectable 8-5-1 ATS, and can clinch home field throughout the playoffs with a win this week or next week.

The Detroit Lions hit a new low last week, losing their sixth straight game (1-5 ATS) against a team that had lost its previous nine straight games and its last game 58-0 in the Arizona Cardinals. The Lions didn’t just lose either, they were blown out 38-10.

Detroit has actually been competitive over the course of its current losing streak losing by a touchdown or less in four of the six games, but at 4-10 SU and 4-9-1 ATS that isn’t the greatest silver lining.

The total has gone UNDER in four of the last five games between these two teams and in each of the last five games these two teams have played in Detroit. Atlanta is 3-1 SU and ATS over its last four games against the Lions and 7-3 ATS over its last 10.

It is hard to make a compelling case for the Detroit Lions here. After last week’s debacle in Arizona, it would appear that the Lions are packing it in for the season, and Atlanta looks to be rounding into top form at the right time.

Detroit could keep it close, but four points aren’t enough to bridge the current gap between these two teams. The Lions have been toothless as an underdog lately.

PICK: Atlanta -4.0 (courtesy of PickShark.com)