Bovada NFL Football Odds: Detroit Lions vs New Orleans Saints

Friday, January 06, 2012

by Bovada Sportsbook

Drew Brees - Bovada NFL Football Odds: Detroit Lions vs New Orleans Saints

The NFL’s Wild-Card action on Saturday concludes in New Orleans Saints in what should by far be the highest-scoring game of the weekend when the sixth-seeded wild-card Detroit Lions visit NFC South champion New Orleans. The Saints are 11-point favorites with the total at 59 on Bovada Sportsbook NFL playoffs odds – New Orleans is the biggest favorite of the weekend and the total is 12 points higher than the next closest game and the highest for a playoff game in NFL history.

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It’s the first trip to the postseason since 1999 for Detroit (10-6), which could have avoided the high-powered Saints (13-3) by upsetting Green Bay in Week 17 – and the Lions almost did, falling 45-41 despite 520 yards passing and five scores from QB Matthew Stafford and 11 catches and 244 yards and a TD from star WR Calvin Johnson. But if Packers backup QB Matt Flynn can throw for six TDs and 480 yards against that Detroit defense, imagine what Drew Brees can do. Since Week 10, the Lions rank near the bottom of the league in several defensive categories.

Brees of course set the NFL record this season for passing yardage in a season and completion percentage in leading the NFL’s No. 1 total, passing and No. 2 scoring offense. The Saints closed the season on an eight-game winning streak, scoring at least 40 in four of those games. The Lions were one of those victims, falling 31-17 at the Superdome – where New Orleans was 8-0, averaging 41.1 points and 492.6 yards -- in Week 13. Brees threw for 342 yards, three scores and no picks, while Stafford threw for 408, one TD and one score. Detroit didn’t have star defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh in that game but he’s back now. The Saints’ leading rusher that day was rookie RB Mark Ingram with 54 yards and a TD on 16 carries, but he’s out for the playoffs. The Lions are relatively healthy heading into this game.

This will mark the first game in NFL history matching QBs who threw for 5,000 yards in season. Look for plenty of blitzing from New Orleans. Under defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, the Saints blitzed on 51.1 percent of opponents' dropbacks this season, the highest rate of any team in the NFL. In the first meeting, they blitzed Stafford 40.4 percent of the time. On those plays, Stafford completed 10 of 17 passes for 167 yards. He was sacked twice and threw an interception. The Saints held Johnson to six catches for 69 yards, zero touchdowns and he didn’t have a catch go for more than 22 yards.

The Lions are 0-5-1 ATS in past six vs. teams with a winning record. Saints are 7-0 ATS in past seven as a favorite and were 8-0 ATS at home this year.

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calvin johnson - detroit lions - drew brees - gregg williams - mark ingram - matt flynn - matthew stafford - ndamukong suh - new orleans saints

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