NFL: Detroit Lions vs New Orleans Saints - Odds, Prediction & Picks

Detroit heads to the Big Easy to take on the 5-6 New Orleans Saints at the Caesars Superdome. The Lions are still in control of the NFC North at 8-3, but are coming off a disappointing loss on Thanksgiving to the Packers. Detroit has now lost seven in a row on Thanksgiving. Sundays though, the Lions have been gold. The Lions offense ranks second in the NFL in scoring and third in passing and could get a lift from the return of offensive lineman Jonah Jackson. 

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Lions 

Lions offensive guard Jonah Jackson returned to practice this week after missing five of the Lions last six games with injuries. The Lions offensive line is already a strength and will get stronger with the return of Jackson. The Lions 1-2 combination at running back of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs has helped the Lions rush for an average of 169 yards the last four games.

Injury Report: After another mini-bye week, the Lions are extremely healthy. Montgomery practiced on a limited basis Wednesday, but should be fine for Sunday. The Lions also designated rookie back-up QB Hendon Hooker to return to practice.

Saints

New Orleans made a big splash in free agency signing ex-Raiders QB Derek Carr, but the results have been mixed at best. The Saints have struggled in the red zone. They only scored five field goals last week and even though they are tied for first in the NFC South, they haven’t played good football. New Orleans is good at forcing turnovers. They are sixth in the NFL in turnover margin at +6 and veteran safety Tyrann Matheiu had two picks in the loss to Atlanta last week.

Injury Report: The Saints suffered more than a bad loss to the Falcons. Two of their top wide receivers: Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed each were injured and are listed as questionable. Saints rookie kicker Blake Grupe is also dealing with an injury, even though he went 5-6 on kicks against the Falcons.

Five of the last six meetings between these two teams have hit the over.

New Orleans is 2-8-1 against the spread and eight of their 11 games have hit the under this season. Detroit is 7-4 against the spread and 7-4 over/under.

Former Lions running back Jamaal Williams is in his first year with New Orleans. He ran for an NFL best 17 touchdowns last season, but has been injured with the Saints and only has 47 carries.

Thanksgiving was ruined for a lot of Lion fans as the Packers jumped out early and then never looked back in a 29-22 win. It’s just more proof that the more you think you know about the NFL, the more you don’t.

Here’s what we believe about the Lions. They will be fired up to get right against a Saints team that is on the fringe of contention, and remember Lions coach Dan Campbell worked for the Saints for five seasons this is his first chance to play against his old franchise. On paper, it looks like a good match-up for Detroit. They are faster and the Lions offensive line should be able to dominate an old and slow Saints defensive line.

Offensively, you look at the Saints and think, hey, they have some pieces, but their offense is slow and plodding. The offensive line has struggled and Carr has been what he was in Oakland and Las Vegas: a little bit above average.

The bad thing is we thought a lot like this about the Packers game.

I’m going to hedge a bit just because I’m still a little spooked at what happened with the Lions on Thanksgiving. I’m not ready to lay the points, but I do love the under. The Saints struggle to score, and their defense is experienced, so I can’t see the Lions scoring that much either. I think the Lions win, but am more confident we won’t see many points.

Under 45.5 (-110) | FanDuel