NFL

Detroit Lions at Atlanta Falcons odds, picks and prediction

Kevin Erickson

Sportsbook Wire

The Detroit Lions (2-11-1) travel to meet the Atlanta Falcons (6-8) for a Week 16 game Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Lions vs. Falcons odds and lines, and make our best NFL picks, predictions and bets.

The Lions pulled off one of the more surprising wins of the season, spanking the 10-win Arizona Cardinals by a 30-12 count last Sunday. Detroit has won two of the past three, while covering five of the previous six outings.

The Falcons have picked up two wins in the past four outings, going 2-2 ATS during the stretch. The Under has hit in five of the previous six games for the Falcons, thanks mostly due an average of just 13.8 PPG on offense during the run.

Lions at Falcons odds, spread and lines

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 7:55 a.m. ET.

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Money line: Lions +225 (bet $100 to win $225) | Falcons -290 (bet $290 to win $100)
Against the spread (ATS): Lions +6.5 (-110) | Falcons -6.5 (-110)
Over/Under (O/U): 42.5 (O: -112 | U: -108)

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Lions at Falcons key injuries

Lions

WR Trinity Benson (reserve/COVID) out
WR Quintez Cephus (reserve/COVID) questionable
QB Jared Goff (reserve/COVID) doubtful
WR Kalif Raymond (shoulder) questionable
WR Josh Reynolds (thigh) questionable
RB D'Andre Swift (shoulder) questionable

Falcons

WR Tajae Sharpe (foot) doubtful

Let's Make This Interesting

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Lions at Falcons odds, lines, predictions and picks

Prediction

Falcons 23, Lions 12

Money line

The Falcons (-290) are too expensive to play laying nearly three times your potential return. After all, they're the Falcons. Plus, the Lions (+225) have been playing hard for head coach Dan Campbell down the stretch.

AVOID.

Against the spread

The FALCONS -6.5 (-110) are worth playing lightly, mainly because Campbell said Friday that it is "highly unlikely" Goff comes off the COVID list, meaning QB Tim Boyle is likely to start. With the receivers room decimated by COVID and injury, and Swift a question mark to play in the backfield, Detroit could be missing quite a few parts on offense.

Over/Under

The UNDER 42.5 (-108) is the way to go here. The Atlanta offense has been struggling quite a bit in recent games, and the Detroit offense will be a shell of itself without Goff, some of the receivers and perhaps Swift. This could be a very low-scoring battle.

Also see:All Week 16 odds and lines

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