San Francisco 49ers at Detroit Lions |
Two of the more surprising teams in the NFL will face off Sunday, as both are exceeding expectations in the NFC race. San Francisco has won three consecutive games, while also beating the number, including a 48-3 win over Tampa Bay as 2.5-point home favorites last week.
What’s surprising about the 49ers is the fact that they are 4-1 on the season, but have been out-gained in four of five games this season. The only statistical victory that they’ve come away with was last week’s 146-yard advantage against the Buccaneers.
Running back Frank Gore is still the offensive star, rushing for 252 of his 400 yards over the past two weeks, which could continue versus this week’s opponent. The former Miami Hurricanes star ran for 71 yards and finished with 81 receiving yards in a 20-6 win over the Detroit Lions in 2009 as 14-point favorites.
sportsbook bettors will find that the 49ers are 9-3-1 ATS as an underdog of 3.5 to 10 points, while the ‘over’ has cashed in six of their last seven games.
Detroit has been the story of the 2011 NFL season thus far and one of two teams that enter Week 6 with a perfect record. The Lions came away with a 24-13 victory over the Chicago Bears as 6.5-point home favorites on Monday Night Football last week.
One thing that came out of that contest was the signs of a running game, as the team racked up 181 yards on the ground versus the Bears. It’s important to note that the 49ers defense has not allowed a 100-yard rusher in the past 27 games, the longest active streak in the NFL.
Before making your NFL betting picks this weekend, take into account that the Lions are 18-6-2 ATS in their last 26 games overall, while the ‘under’ has cashed in seven consecutive meetings in this series.
