Second-year head coaches Dan Campbell and Arthur Smith will kick off their 2022 campaigns when the Atlanta Falcons travel to Ford Field and face the Detroit Lions in the 2022 NFL Preseason Opener for the two teams on Friday. Detroit hopes this season will be different after finishing last in the NFC North and going 3-13-1. Marcus Mariota will be the new starting quarterback under center and will make his Falcons debut.
Kickoff from Detroit’s Ford Field is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET. Atlanta is a 1-point favorite in the latest Falcons vs. Lions odds at Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points scored is 35. Before locking in Lions vs. Falcons picks or NFL preseason predictions 2022, be sure to check out what SportsLine NFL expert RJ White has to say.
For the past seven years, White, a fantasy and gaming editor at CBS Sports, has scored 329-250-21 in the world’s most prestigious soccer handicapping competition, the Las Vegas SuperContest. He’s also SportsLine’s No. 1 NFL expert, going 445-378-24 on his 2017-21 NFL picks against the spread, netting $2,542 for $100 players.
Additionally, White went 45-26-2 on his last 73 picks involving the Lions, netting $1,580. Everyone who followed him is upstairs.
Now White has focused on the Falcons vs. Lions and has just locked in his NFL picks and predictions. You can head over to SportsLine now to see its picks and analysis. Here are the NFL odds and betting lines for the Lions vs Falcons
- Falcons vs. Lions gap: Falcons -1
- Falcons vs. Lions over-under: 35 points
- Silverline Falcons vs. Lions: Atlanta -115, Detroit -105
- ATL: Falcons are 5-2-1 ATS in their last eight road games
- DET: Lions have covered four straight home games
- Falcons vs. Lions pick: See the picks here
Featured game | Detroit Lions vs. Atlanta Falcons
Why the Falcons can cover
Atlanta will get a few new quarterbacks on the field for the first time in 14 years after trading Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts in March. Mariota should play series or two to gain rhythm and continuity with his new teammates. His versatility gives the Atlanta offense a new dynamic.
Rookie quarterback Desmond Ridder will make his first appearance for the Falcons after being selected in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Ridder plays with confidence and solid command and will be looking to make a strong first impression. He’s been playing well in training camp so far and should make plays against whatever base coverage he sees.
Why Lions Can Cover
Despite going 3-13-1 last season, the Lions have worked hard. Campbell seems to have conquered the locker room as he tries to change the culture in Detroit. Campbell said the starters will play about a quarter before being pulled.
Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, the No. 2 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, makes his Lion debut. Hutchinson is an explosive athlete who has an incredible turn on the edge. Backup quarterback Tim Boyle should see plenty of shots in this game. Boyle knows the system and should be able to move the ball. He threw for 562 yards with three touchdown passes last year.
How to Make Lions vs. Falcons Picks
White has analyzed this game and he’s leaning Under on total points. He also discovered a critical X-factor that causes him to jump to one side of the spread. He’s just sharing what it is, and which side to support, at SportsLine.
Who wins the Falcons against the Lions on Friday? And what critical X-factor makes one side of the spread unavoidable? Visit SportsLine now to see RJ White’s Falcons vs. Lions picks, all from the NFL pundit who is 45-26-2 over his last 73 picks involving Detroit, and find out.
