NFL Picks Week 5: Detroit Lions Favored Over St. Louis Rams by Three
By Jimmy Boyd (Analyst) on October 8, 2010
The Detroit Lions will try to earn their first victory of the season when they host the 2-2 St. Louis Rams in Sunday’s Week 5 contest. NFL odds makers have given Detroit the edge, too, listing the Lions as a three-point favorite with the total set at 42.5.
The Lions and Rams, which combined for only three wins in 2009, have made strides in 2010, but St. Louis’ strides can be seen in the win column. In fact, the Rams have a chance to win three straight games for the first times in four years Sunday.
St. Louis finished with a 1-15 record last season, but it is worth noting that its lone win came at Detroit. Led by Stephen Jackson’s 149 rushing yards, the Rams posted a 17-10 victory over the Lions.
Jackson, who has totaled 312 yards from scrimmage in two career games against Detroit, could be the key to another St. Louis win. After all, Detroit ranks 25th in the league in rushing defense, allowing 134.5 yards per game on the ground.
Fortunately for St. Louis, teams cannot simply stack the line of scrimmage to stop Jackson and expect to win anymore. That all changed when the Rams made former Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford their No. 1 draft pick last spring.
After a pair of narrow defeats to Arizona and Oakland, Bradford has led the Rams to blowout wins over Washington and Seattle, while throwing for an average of 262 yards in those games.
Defensively, St. Louis continues to give up a lot of yards, but it has transformed into a big play unit. The Rams have already come up with 10 takeaways, tied for fifth most in the NFL.
Taking a look at things from a betting perspective, Rams backers will like to know that their team is a perfect 4-0 against the spread in its last four road games as an underdog of three or fewer points.
While the Lions are off to an 0-4 start, they feel like they could easily be 3-1. The Lions, who are now just 2-34 in their last 36 games, have losses of five, three, and two points this season.
The Lions fell 28-26 at Green Bay last week to a team that many feel can win the Super Bowl. The Lions of two years ago may have packed it in when they were down 28-14 in the third quarter. This Lions team has shown that it won’t say die.
Despite playing without starting quarterback Matthew Stafford, who was injured on a hit by Chicago’s Julius Peppers in the season opener, the Detroit offense has impressed. With backup quarterback Shaun Hill under center, Detroit has averaged 401.3 yards of offense the last three weeks.
Hill has even built some nice chemistry with star wideout Calvin Johnson, who was on the receiving end of both of his touchdown passes last week.
The key to finally getting in the win column will be limiting...
-10-08-2010, 10:30 AM
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