New Orleans opens at Detroit in the largest spread of the Sunday early window. Kickoff is 1 p.m. ET at Ford Field on FOX, and the Lions are laying 7 with the total at 49.5.
What time is Saints vs Lions, and what channel?
Sunday, September 13 at 1 p.m. ET on FOX, carried regionally. Out of market viewers need NFL Sunday Ticket.
The matchup
Seven points is the biggest number in the early window and the second biggest of the week behind the Chargers. Detroit indoors with a 49.5 total is the market saying it expects the Lions to score comfortably.
The moneyline tells the story more bluntly than the spread: New Orleans at +240 is the second longest price of the week among Sunday afternoon games.
Prediction and odds
Lions -7 is a fair number rather than a bargain, and seven is the most awkward key number in football to lay. The cleaner side is the over: a fast track indoors, a favorite expected to score, and an underdog who will likely be throwing to catch up in the second half.
Our pick: Lions 31, Saints 21.
The bottom line
The most lopsided of the eight early games. Detroit at home is the closest thing to a comfortable favorite before the late window.