49ers Lions Odds

Written by Jack Jones

The Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers are two of the biggest surprise teams in the NFL this year. They will square off at Ford Field in Detroit Sunday in a game that didn’t appear like it was going to have nearly this much meaning coming into the season. The 49ers have won seven straight meetings in this series, with Detroit’s last win coming back in 1995. San Francisco was victorious 20-6 at home in their last meeting in 2009.

The odds makers believe the Lions will continue their unbeaten start to the season. Detroit is a 4-point home favorite with a total set of 46 points.

Detroit

Counting their 4-0 preseason mark, the Lions are now 13-0 in their last 13 contests overall dating back to the final four games of last season. Detroit (5-0, 2-0 home) came away victorious this past Monday with a 24-13 victory over the Chicago Bears. It was their first appearance on Monday Night Football in a decade, and their first MNF home game since 1980. The Lions’ defensive line harassed Jay Cutler all game long, and Jahvid Best finally got going with a career-best 163 rushing yards.

With a 73-yard reception in the first quarter, Calvin Johnson became the first player in NFL history with nine touchdown grabs in his first four games. He will be trying to help Detroit match their best start in 55 years with a win over San Francisco on Sunday. Lions’ fans are sure to be rowdy once again as they try to wreak havoc on Alex Smith and the 49ers. The crowd noise contributed to the Bears committing nine false start penalties Monday night.

Detroit ranks 10th in total offense (379.6 yards/game) and 12th in total defense (339.2 yards/game). Their offense is led by Matthew Stafford, who is completing 63.6 percent of his passes for 1,436 yards and 13 touchdowns to four interceptions. Johnson has 29 grabs for 451 yards and those nine scores, while tight end Brandon Pettigrew has chipped in 26 receptions for 279 yards and a touchdown. Best has rushed for 353 yards and two scores on the year.

San Francisco

The 49ers are off to their best start in nine years after matching the biggest blowout in the NFL this season with a 48-3 win over Tampa Bay last Sunday. Fittingly, Detroit is the other team with a 48-3 win, which came against Kansas City in Week 2. San Francisco (4-1, 2-0 away) now leads the NFC West by two full games. If they hadn’t blown a 10-point lead to Dallas in Week 2, they would be unbeaten. They outgained the Bucs 418-272 and forced three Tampa Bay turnovers, including an interceptions that was returned 31 yards for a touchdown by Carlos Rogers.

San Francisco’s defense has been the biggest reason for their turnaround. The 49ers feature a stop unit that ranks 13th in total defense (340.8 yards/game), including 4th against the run (76.4 yards/game). San Francisco ranks just 26th in total offense (300.2 yards/game), but they are taking care of the football behind excellent play from Alex Smith. He threw 51 touchdowns and 53 interceptions in his first five seasons, but Smith has thrown for seven scores with just one pick thus far in 2011. He is also completing 65.9 percent of his passes.

Frank Gore has gotten going over the past two weeks, rushing for a combined 252 yards against the Eagles and Bucs. Vernon Davis remains the 49ers’ most reliable target, catching 22 balls for 263 yards and three touchdowns. Underrated Josh Morgan was their most productive wide receiver with 15 grabs for 220 yards and a score before going out late in the fourth quarter with a broken bone in his lower leg against the Bucs. He will be out for remainder of the season, and Braylon Edwards remains out following right knee surgery. That has prompted the 49ers to go out and sign wideout Brett Swain to a one-year deal.

Betting Trends

While the 49ers have won seven straight in this series, six of those wins came at home. San Francisco has gone 4-1-2 ATS in those 7 meetings, and the Under is a perfect 7-0.

Detroit is now 10-0-1 ATS in their last 11 games following a S.U. win, 18-6-2 ATS in their last 26 games overall, and 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games as a home favorite.

The 49ers are 11-4-3 ATS in their last 18 games as an underdog, 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall, and 9-3-1 ATS in their last 13 games as an underdog of 3.5-10.0 points.

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