The Detroit Lions hope to repay the favor when they enter Candlestick Park for a Sunday Night Football clash on national TV. Having already reported on opening leans, we now consider movement on both the NFL odds boards and the total for your betting enrichment.
The Niners opened up earlier this week as seven-point NFL odds favorites, and the total came out at 46. Those numbers have held
steady throughout early betting. But, we're thinking money is going to start coming
in on San Francisco as game-time approaches, so those out there thinking about
going that way, too, might want to get in before that -7 becomes -7.5 or more.
We're also thinking the total on this game might begin to
drift upwards as game-time nears. So those who like the UNDER on this game
might benefit by waiting a while before getting down.
The Niners thought they did a decent job defending Calvin
Johnson during last year's game, yet Stafford still hit him seven times for 113
yards. But they did keep him from scoring; indeed San Fran forced the
Lions to kick two very short field goals, which in the end won them the game.
The Niners will do more of the same Saturday, double-covering Johnson throughout, daring somebody else beat them. That
somebody else last year was RB Jahvid Best, who caught six balls out of
the backfield for 73 yards. But Best is on the PUP list dealing with some
post-concussion symptoms and unavailable until further notice.
The Lions ran the ball 18 times against the Rams last week;
we'd put the OVER/UNDER on Detroit rushing attempts for Sunday night at about
16.
Johnson sat out practice Wednesday because of a sore foot,
but is fully expected to be in form Sunday.
San Francisco RB Frank Gore ran for 141 yards on just 15
carries vs. the Lions last season; but last week Detroit held St. Louis RB
Steven Jackson to 53 yards on 21 carries. Does that mean Detroit has made
progress against the run? Yeah, we think they have, at least a little. Then
again, it wouldn't be too tough to improve upon the 128 YPG the Lions allowed
on the ground last year.
And that certainly
doesn't mean Gore won't go off for a buck-forty again Sunday night. He got the
Packers for 112 yards last week on just 16 carries.