The Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions meet in their preseason opener Friday. Kickoff from Ford Field is set for 6 p.m. ET (NFL Network). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Falcons vs. Lions odds, and make our best NFL picks, predictions and bets.
The QB Marcus Mariota era begins in Motown, as the Falcons’ new field general is expected to make his team debut.
There is a lot of hype surrounding the Lions, and it’s not just because of rookie DE Aidan Hutchinson and his rendition of Billie Jean in front of the team. QB Jared Goff will look to develop rapport with new WR D.J. Chark. Head coach Dan Campbell brings a lot of energy to the team, and they’ll be hoping to have a few fewer hard knocks than usual.
Falcons at Lions odds
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 3:44 p.m. ET.
- Money line (ML): Falcons -112 (bet $112 to win $100) | Lions -108 (bet $108 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Falcons -0.5 (-112) | Lions +0.5 (-108)
- Over/Under (O/U): 35.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Falcons at Lions picks and predictions
Prediction
Lions 17, Falcons 13
Money line
The LIONS (-108) are out to change everybody’s perception, and head coach Dan Campbell seems like an individual who will treat these games like they mean something — and to this squad they probably do.
Detroit has been in the doldrums for a long time, and he seeks to tap into some unusual preseason hype in the Motor City. Look for an electric atmosphere in Game 1.
Against the spread
The LIONS +0.5 (-108) is only worth playing over the money line if you believe there will be a tie. That’s the only difference between betting the ATS or the ML.
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Over/Under
The UNDER 35.5 (-105) is the lean, as preseason openers are generally defensive slogs. The Falcons really struggled on offense last season, and they are likely to use the preseason games to try and establish the run. The run is always a good thing for potential Under bettors, as it keeps the clock moving.
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