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NFL Free Pick: Lions vs. Falcons Betting Odds & Handicapping Preview

Week 8: Detroit vs Atlanta Expert Preview

In Week 8 of the NFL season we will see a match-up between the Detroit Lions (5-2) and the Atlanta Falcons at Wembley Stadium. Cappers Picks will provide free NFL picks all season.

A pair of NFC teams will make the trip across the Atlantic Ocean to entertain fans at London, England’s Wembley Stadium on Sunday.

Bet on NFL Week 8 Football!

Detroit vs. Atlanta
When: Sunday, Oct 26 2014 at 9:30 am ET
Where: Wembley Stadium
TV: FOX
NFL Week 8 ATS Gambling Line: Lions -3.5
NFL Week 8 Gambling O/U Line: 46.5
***2014 BONUSES***
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Click here to view today’s… ATS Matchup Insight | CP Insider Gambling Preview

The Lions have been keeping a steady course even in the absence of their star wide receiver Calvin Johnson. The Falcons meanwhile have been struggling and are in the midst of a four game losing streak after a 2-1 start to the season.

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These overseas games are always a bit tricky when it comes to picking a winner. The travel is tough for both teams, their practice schedules are thrown off by the time change, which also comes into affect with the game starting at 9:30 am Eastern Time.

In many cases it’s not about who the better team is, but who deals better with the shock to their schedule and shows up on game day.

Lions

Detroit gutted out a tough comeback win last week against the New Orleans Saints, a game in which they trailed 23-10 in the fourth quarter before rallying for 14 unanswered points and a 24-23 victory.

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This was a real statement game against a team that was coming out of a bye and early in the game looked to be turning a corner.

The Lions sit tied for first in the NFC North and have done so with some stellar defensive play.

I’ll admit that I thought the Lions’ offense would be much better than they are, especially early on when they routed the New York Giants.

This team hasn’t really been the same with the ball since that game, but much of that can be attributed to the health of Calvin Johnson. QB Matt Stafford has found comfort with Golden Tate and the two pronged run attack of Reggie Bush and Joique Bell has been good enough to have this team sitting at five wins.

If not for some poor kicking by Alex Henery against the Buffalo Bills, the Lions could be sitting at 6-1 right now and a 7-1 record would be very realistic heading into their bye week in week 9.

As it stands they have to be happy with their 5-2 start and getting to 6-2 before their bye would be a great foundation to make a playoff push in the second half of the season.

Falcons

It’s been a rough season and half for the Falcons. Once the darlings of the NFC South, this team has been in free fall and the clock seems to be winding down for head coach Mike Smith. For all the talent on this team they just can not find ways to win.

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Actually scratch that, finding ways to win would insinuate that they’ve been in a lot of close games but it’s quite the opposite. In their current four game losing slide the Falcons have been outscored 127-68.

Their D has given up no less than 27 points in their last four losses. The Falcons sit 27th in the NFL against the run (137.7 yds/game) and 29th in pass defense (274.4 yds/game).

In total yards allowed they sit 30th, where they also sit in points allowed per game at 28.4. So yeah, their defense has been bad, really bad.

The offense just hasn’t been able to sustain long enough drives to keep the defense off the field, and Matt Ryan and Co. aren’t scoring enough points to outrun the team’s defensive shortcomings.

Week 8 Lions vs. Falcons 4* Free Pick

While the Falcons are billed as the home team in this one, Wembley Stadium is open air and thus considered an outdoor stadium.

The Falcons haven’t won outdoors since November of 2012. Detroit hasn’t lit the world on fire on offense but the Falcons just can not stop anyone right now and I think that continues this week.

Go with the Lions in this game.

Check out our Updated NFL Week 8 Odds.

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By Matt Durnan

A (self-proclaimed) fantasy sports guru since 2004 and a journalist since 2007. He has been offering unsolicited sports gambling advice to his circle of friends for years and has now put himself at the mercy of online readers everywhere. "It's not whether you win or lose, it's how much fun you have"... His hockey coach told him that when he was 7. His team lost every game that year.