The defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens head to Detroit to take on the Lions in a Monday night showdown featuring two teams in the thick of their conferences playoff races.
The Lions fell at snowy Philadelphia last week and began the week in no worse than a tie in the NFC North. Now they lay almost a touchdown (per Sportsbook) in the Monday Nighter.
Detroit QB Matthew Stafford and top target Calvin Johnson have been an unstoppable duo at home this season, but will be tested by a Baltimore defense that has improved week to week.
The Ravens won a thriller against the Minnesota Vikings and are still alive for both the AFC North Division title and a Wild Card spot. Baltimore has covered the spread in six of their last eight appearances on Monday Night Football.
Baltimore is 6-2 ATS past 8 Monday Nighters but just 2-5 ATS vs the Lions since 1985.
Supporters of the Ravens have seen them go 7-6 and 6-7 ATS so far this season, while the Lions are at 7-6 and 6-7 ATS. In totals betting, the Lions are 8-5, while the Ravens are 5-7-1.
View Baltimore Ravens vs Detroit Lions Odds and Stats.
On the Sportsbook line for this matchup, the Lions sat as 6-point favorites at shops such as Sportsbook. The total, meanwhile, has been pegged by the oddsmakers at Sportsbook at 48.
The Lions sit at No. 13 in the current NFL Power Rankings here at OddsShark, while the Ravens are at No. 14 on that chart. Math models have concluded that the Lions will win this game 25-23.
Baltimore was a 29-26 Sportsbook in its last match at home against the Vikings. They failed to cover the 6-point spread as favorites, while the total score of 55 sent OVER bettors to the payout window. The Lions suffered a Week 14 loss against Philadelphia in their last game, falling 34-20 at Lincoln Financial Field.
How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up Detroit's No. 6-ranked offense (26.62 PPG) against a Ravens defense that ranks No. 8 at 20.08 PPG. The Lions passing attack has averaged 296.92 yards per game, more than the Ravens give up through the air (231.69 YPG on average).
In comparing defenses, the Ravens own the league's No. 7-rated front 7 in terms of stopping the run, allowing 101.33 yards per game when on the road. Detroit, on the other hand, rates No. 7 this week in generating rushing yards at home.
A few Ravens at Lions trends to consider:
Baltimore is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Baltimore is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Baltimore is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Baltimore is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Detroit
Detroit is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
Detroit is 7-14 SU in its last 21 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Detroit's last 8 games
Detroit is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
Next up:
Baltimore home to New England, Sunday, December 22nd
Detroit home to New York, Sunday, December 22nd
