Week 1 picks: Who the experts like in the Lions vs. Eagles matchup
The Detroit Lions are one of several home underdogs in NFL Week 1. It seems few of the professional game prognosticators see the Lions pulling off the upset over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Lions keys to victory in Week 1 matchup vs. the Philadelphia Eagles
USA TODAY
(AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
USA TODAY has seven pundits picking games. Six of those chose the Eagles. Only Mike Jones picked the Lions. Note that three of the predictions here had the Lions covering the spread but losing outright.
ESPN
(AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
There are 10 game pickers at ESPN. One of them, former Lions OL Damien Woody, did not make his picks in time. Of the other nine, seven chose the Eagles to fly to victory.
Jeremy Fowler and Seth Wickersham each chose the Lions to win in Detroit. The picks here are straight-up, no odds involved.
NFL.com
Analyst Gregg Rosenthal had this to say about predicting the Eagles to win the game 33-27,
In a battle of two teams that did so much right this offseason, the Lions’ secondary stands out as an unaddressed area. I can’t see the unit holding up against A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert when so much attention will be paid to stopping the Eagles’ running game.
NFL Pickwatch
Pickwatch tracks the picks across the internet spectrum, including fan picks on several websites and contests.
Per their tracking, 87 percent of all straight-up picks choose the Eagles.
Bleacher Report
Bleacher Report has a panel of seven analysts picking games. Five of the seven chose the Eagles to cover the spread, which was just a four-point game at the time.
Ian Kenyon and Brent Sobleski chose the Lions with the points, and it notes the Lions were 6-2 at home against the spread in 2021.
CBS Sports
CBS Sports has eight panelists picking the games both straight up and against the spread. IT didn’t matter, points or not; all eight pundits chose the Eagles to win outright and cover the 4-point spread.
My pick
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
I make my own picks every week at RealGM. Here’s what I said about the Lions this week,
– Philadelphia Eagles at Detroit Lions (+4): What was a rough Xs and Os matchup for the improved Lions has taken a significant turn for the worse with Detroit’s OL injuries. Starting RG Halapoulivaati Vaitai is on IR, his replacement Tommy Kraemer hasn’t practiced all week and Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow–the Lions’ best overall player–seems doubtful with a groin injury. This will be more competitive than last year’s 44-6 Philly rout, but it’s a brutal opening draw for Dan Campbell’s Lions to try and get their resurgence off the ground.
Eagles 31, Lions 15
