Cleveland Browns(0-8SU, 2-6ATS) vs. Detroit Lions(4-4SU, 4-4ATS)
NFL Week 10
Date/Time: Sunday, November 12th, 1:00pm ET
Where: Ford Field – Detroit, MI
TV: CBS
byBob,NFLFootballHandicapper, Predictem.com
Point Spread: CLE +12.5/DET -12.5
Over/Under Total: 43.5
Sunday at Ford Field, the 4-4 Detroit Lions will attempt to not be the team that loses the first game to the Cleveland Browns in 2017. Detroit is sitting in 2nd place in the NFC North while the Browns, of course, are dead last in the AFC North. It was just a decade ago that Detroit found themselves in the same position as the Browns and maybe just maybe in a few years we can see Cleveland improve…maybe.
The Cleveland Browns open as a 12.5 point underdog to the Lions on the road while the total points are set at 43.5. Naturally, the betting public is all over Detroit so far with 65% of the action taking them to cover at home. As for the total points, 57% thinks this game will go over the 43.5. Against the spread this year, Detroit has the same record as their actual record which is 4-4 while the Browns have only covered twice in eight tries this season.
The Cleveland Browns. Where do I start? Not only is Cleveland winless in 2017, but there is no sign of them getting any better at all. Statistically, they are a mess. Passing yards per game ranked 22nd, rushing yards per game ranked 23rd, scoring defense ranked 28th, and last but not least, the Cleveland Browns have the 31st worst scoring offense only putting up a tad over 14 points a game…and some of those points are in garbage time. This is a bad team and it is very hard to explain how they have any shot to cover this spread come Sunday.
What can Cleveland do to win this game or stay within the 12.5? First off, if the Lions do not show up then the Browns MAY have some sort of hope. But on a serious note, Cleveland just needs to make plays. Someone, somehow, on either side of the ball needs to just have that game they shine. Along with playing above their heads, the Cleveland defensive front needs to force Stafford to make throws under pressure. Stafford is becoming one of the league’s best, but under pressure he is still prone to throw a pick or two. Cleveland needs to find a way to make Detroit make the mistakes…oh and the Browns need to stop turning the ball over themselves to have any shot come Sunday.
Detroit is still alive and well in the NFC playoff picture and a win this weekend to get over .500 would be huge. The Lions are playing on a short week after taking on Green Bay this past Monday night in a game they won 30-17. The short week will have some impact on this game and could be the one thing that the Browns have going for them. In no other area does Cleveland have sort of advantage. For Detroit to get this easy win and potentially cover the double digit spread they just need to play the way they have played all year while improving the defense some. The Lions are allowing almost 24 points a game which ranks them just in the top 20 of the NFL in scoring defense. The defense should be able to hold Cleveland in check enough to win, but will they allow the Browns to score enough to stay withing two scores? That is the question.
Just a few articles ago I talked about how I always take the points in huge spreads. Okay, well here is when I contradict myself. Detroit is going to destroy Cleveland. This just is not a good time for Cleveland to head into Detroit and try and stay competitive. The Lions are looking better and I think they send a message on Sunday and beat Cleveland something like 35-13. It will not be pretty. Take the Lions all day.
Bob’sPick to Cover the Point Spread: TAKE THE DETROIT LIONS -12.5. Bet this game for FREE by taking advantage of a 50% bonus up to $250 at one of the web’s oldest and most trusted betting sites: BOVADA