Week 17 of the 2017 NFL betting season is here, which means that the best sportsbooks online players will go all out this weekend as the final footnote on the season is upon us. There are plenty of intriguing matchups this weekend. Some pairings will have the playoffs on the line while others will be battling for bragging rights. One such matchup is this weekend’s NFC North contest between the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers. Both teams have been eliminated from playoff contention, so this one’s just all about the rivalry. The Lions got the better off the Packers earlier this season and will be looking to do the same this Sunday. Let’s take a look at what kind of turnout US sportsbooks are predicting for this Week 17 pairing.
Betting Green Bay
The Packers stumble into this matchup sporting a meager 7-8 record that perfectly reflects what’s wrong with this franchise: it’s the Aaron Rodgers show. Without Rodgers in the lineup, the Packers posted a 3-5 record through 8 weeks. Ultimately, that 8-week tenure opened up US sportsbooks eyes to the myriad of problems within Green Bay’s organization; a horrendous secondary, no semblance of a running game, an out of touch defensive coordinator, and a front desk more interested in keeping the club’s profits high rather than winning a Super Bowl.
A few weeks back the Packers laid it all on the line by bringing Rodgers back into the starting lineup. Green Bay was facing the Carolina Panthers, it was Week 15, and a win over Cam Newton would’ve kept the Packers’ playoff hopes alive. Instead, a visibly distressed Rodgers’ threw for 3 interceptions, effectively ending Green Bay’s postseason aspirations. From there, the Packers decided to place Rodgers on IR once again, violating one of the league’s simplest rules. Accordingly, the Packers, as the rule states, have to release Rodgers because he did not sustain a new injury. It will be interesting to see how this plays out, as Green Bay could end up losing the one thing that made them a playoff contender.
As for this weekend, the best sportsbook online players will be betting against the Packers. Rodgers’ won’t be in the lineup, the running game isn’t good enough to carry them to a win on itself, and Green Bay’s Swiss-cheese-secondary will likely get torn apart by Matt Stafford.
Betting Detroit
The Lions pounce into the final week of the 2017 regular season with an 8-7 record. Earlier this season, Detroit had an opportunity to capitalize on an Aaron Rodgers-less division. However, the Lions let that opportunity slip through their hands – something the Minnesota Vikings, the 2017 NFC North champions, did not. The Lions are coming off a 26-17 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and will be looking for a rebound and ultimately to end the season out on a high note. All in all the Lions are 2-2 in their last 4 games and will be looking for a better finish to the 2017 season.
Overall, the Lions are a better team. Offensively the Lions are averaging 25.0 while the Packers are struggling to put up 20.6. Defensively the Packers have a slight advantage but it’s not enough to make up for the offensive differences. This, coupled with the fact that Rodgers will be out of the starting lineup, makes Detroit the clear option when betting on this NFC North matchup.
Best Sportsbook Online Betting Lines & Odds:
Green Bay Packers +6 (-110) 43 ½ (-105) +222
Detroit Lions -6 (-110) 43 ½ (-115) -270