Chicago at Detroit Odds, Free Pick & TV Info

The Detroit Lions lead the NFC North Division and can take another big step to their first division title since 1993 on Sunday with a victory over the last-place Chicago Bears. The Lions are the biggest favorites on the NFL betting board for Week 14 but the Bears won the first meeting.

Chicago at Detroit Odds, Free Pick & TV Info

#Bears look to cool Lions, Stafford’s hot streak. #CHIvsDET

: https://t.co/6CxLebVy4A pic.twitter.com/Wnr2Oi5Vti — Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) December 8, 2016

When: Sunday, Dec. 11, 1 PM ET Where: Ford Field, Detroit TV: CBS Radio: Chicago / Detroit Stream Option: NFL Live Opening NFL Lines: Lions -7 (43.5)

Why Bet on Chicago?

The Bears (3-9) ended a three-game losing streak in a 26-6 home win over San Francisco in Week 13. Jordan Howard ran for 117 yards and a career-high three touchdowns. Matt Barkley, making his second start with Jay Cutler sidelined by a season-ending shoulder injury, went nearly the entire first half without a completion. But he led a touchdown drive near the end of the second quarter and finished 11 of 18 for 192 yards. Bears rookie Leonard Floyd flashed again, recording a pair of sacks. Despite being inactive for three weeks in 2016, Floyd is second on the team in sacks (7), behind only veteran Willie Young (7.5). Floyd’s seven sacks are third-most by a rookie in franchise history. Floyd, Howard, Cody Whitehair and Eddie Goldman are youngsters from general manager Ryan Pace’s first two draft classes who can be identified as core members for the future Howard became the fifth rookie in Bears history – and the first since 1995 (Rashaan Salaam, December 17) – to rush for three touchdowns in a single game. Only Hall of Famer Gale Sayers (four rushing TDs on December 12, 1965) had more rushing touchdowns in a game as a rookie in franchise history. Howard has five 100-yard rushing games this season, tying Beattie Feathers (1934) and Salaam (1995) for the most games with 100+ rushing yards by a rookie in team history.​ By beating the 49ers, the Bears probably removed themselves from contention for the No. 2 pick in April. But their odds at a top-five pick remain over 80 percent. Back in Week 4, the Bears notched their first victory of the season by knocking off the Lions 17-14 at Soldier Field. Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford looked awful that afternoon, completing just 23-of- 36 passes for 213 yards and two interceptions.

Why Bet on Detroit?

The Lions have a two-game lead in their division after Week 10 for the first time since 1993. Since that Bears loss, the Lions have won seven of eight and sit atop the NFC North standings. Stafford has turned into an MVP candidate. He’s completed 67.2 percent of his passes for 3,224 yards, 21 touchdowns, five interceptions and a 100.5 passer rating. Benched in his last game against Chicago, Golden Tate has turned into a strong weapon since then. He leads the Lions with 65 catches for 762 yards. Detroit won in New Orleans 28-13 last week, its fourth straight victory. Stafford passed for 341 yards and two touchdowns, and Tate exploited a Saints coverage breakdown on third-and- long for a 66-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter when Detroit (8-4) was clinging to a six-point lead. The Lions dominated statistically, but four opportunities inside the New Orleans 20 ended with Matt Prater field goals, allowing the Saints to stay close until the fourth quarter. Matt Prater picked up his third NFC Special Teams Player of the Week award after making five field goals. The Lions outgained the Saints 422 yards to 369, and also controlled time of possession, 36:52 to 23:08 while running 67 plays to New Orleans’ 57. The victory was Detroit’s first in a road game following Thanksgiving since 1974, snapping a streak of 22 losses in such games. Detroit starting center Travis Swanson missed practice Wednesday because he is dealing with a concussion so he’s in danger of sitting this one out. It’s not clear when Swanson suffered the concussion, as he played all 70 snaps in Detroit’s victory over New Orleans. Swanson has started every game this season for the Lions and has become one of the league’s top centers. This eight-game stretch marks the team’s best in eight games since 1995, when Detroit won the final seven games that year and finished with a 7-1 record over the final eight games. Stafford’s 104.1-passer rating over that time is the sixth best behind Marcus Mariota (117.7), Dak Prescott (114.5), Brady (113.1), Drew Brees (108.4) and Matt Ryan (105.2).

Chicago at Detroit Free Pick: Detroit Lions

Over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Detroit. Bears are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 meetings in Detroit. Take the Lions and the over on NFL odds.