NFL betting on Sunday includes a matchup in Detroit as the Lions host the Cleveland Browns. Neither team has done much this season but someone has to win in this game. Here are some NFL betting trends and numbers to consider for this matchup between the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions.
NFL betting had the Lions being competitive enough last week to actually get a push against the Minnesota Vikings on the football betting line. The Vikings were 17-point favorites against Detroit and the game ended 27-10. The Lions have been pretty pathetic overall but they have shown the ability to hang in games versus the NFL betting odds. The problem for Detroit is that they don’t win. The Lions have lost 31 of their last 33 games which ties the NFL football betting record for most futility over that long a period of time. Detroit was able to be somewhat competitive last week as quarterback Matthew Stafford completed 29 for 51 for 224 yards against the Minnesota defense.
The Browns and Lions have met just twice this decade. The Browns won 24-14 at home back in 2001 while the Lions won 13-10 at Cleveland in 2005. The Lions have been more competitive at home this season than on the road but their NFL betting results are still poor. Kevin Smith leads the team in rushing but at just over 500 yards that is not saying much. The team ranks 26th in the league in yards and in points scored as football betting stats show. The defense is even worse as they are last in the league in points allowed.
Cleveland has been just as bad as Detroit this season in NFL betting. The Browns have been terrible on offense and last week went back to Brady Quinn at quarterback. Their defense hasn’t been much better as they rank 28th in the league in points allowed. Cleveland hasn’t shown much under head coach Eric Mangini this season and it could be one and done for Mangini as head man in Cleveland.
This matchup on Sunday is a tough one to pick and taking the points may be the way to go in football betting. On the other hand, neither team has shown much but the Lions have at least scored some points and that could give them the NFL betting edge, particularly at home.