5* Sunday Night Football Game of the Year

Detroit vs. New Orleans, 12/04/2011 20:30 EDT, Score: 17 - 31

Point Spread: +10/-135 Detroit

Sportsbook: 5Dimes

Result: Loss

5* Sunday Night Football Game of the Year (NBC) on Lions +9
Odds makers have really inflated this line, trying to trap a public that knows Suh is out and just watched New Orleans smack the Giants on MNF. The Lions are the right side without question, and I'm confident they'll deliver.

The Lions outplayed the Packers in a lot of ways in their Thanksgiving loss and could have won that game had it not been for costly turnovers. Detroit outgained the Packers 409-243, and it will have no trouble moving the ball on a New Orleans defense that is 25th in the league with 370.8 yards allowed per game. I don't see the Lions having the same turnover issues this evening against a defense that has only forced more than 1 in a game twice this season.

Suh is a good player, but the Lions are deep up front and will be able to survive without him. Even without Suh, Detroit puts the best defense on the field in this matchup, one that ranks 10th in the NFL with 329.5 yards allowed per game and 6th against the pass with 202.2 yards allowed per contest.

The Saints are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games following a SU win of more than 14 points. The Lions are 11-4-1 ATS in their last 16 games overall, 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 road games and 16-5 ATS in their last 21 games following a double-digit loss at home.

Also, plays on any team after allowing 25 points or more in 2 straight games against an opponent after a win by 10 or more points are 40-14 ATS the last 5 seasons. Pound Detroit.