NFL Week 9 expert picks: Nearly all Detroit beat writers predicting Lions over Packers

Something has to give. The Detroit Lions are on a three-game losing streak and are dangerously close to falling out of the NFC North race. The Green Bay Packers, losers of two straight, are floundering after losing Aaron Rodgers for at least eight weeks. But on “Monday Night Football” one of those streaks will come to an end.

And if you ask most NFL experts, it seems like the Lions are the more likely of the two to break their funk. Check out expert picks for Monday night:

National analysts:

ESPN: 5 of 10 picked Lions
SB Nation: 7 of 8 picked Lions
CBS Sports: 5 of 8 picked Lions
Pro Football Focus: 7 of 9 picked Lions
Sports Illustrated: 4 of 6 picked Lions

Total: 28 of 41 picked Lions (68.3%)

While that isn’t exactly an overwhelming majority of experts picking the Lions, it is a slightly bigger percentage than you may think. The Lions have only won in Lambeau once in the past 25 years, and they’re currently struggling. But it just goes to show you how much respect the national media has for Aaron Rodgers.

Locally speaking, there is a frightening amount of optimism in Detroit.

Local analysts:

MLive: 2 of 2 picked Lions
Freep: 3 of 4 picked Lions
Detroit News: 4 of 4 picked Lions
Detroit Jock City: 5 of 7 picked Lions
Lions Wire: 5 of 6 picked Lions
Pride of Detroit: 7 of 10 picked Lions

Total: 26 of 33 picked Lions (78.8%)

In terms of the beat writers, only one sole staff member is picking the Packers tonight, while the fan blogs are a little more hesitant. Among Detroit Jock City, Lions Wire and Pride of Detroit, “only” 74 percent of predictors are taking the Lions.

Now it’s time to make your predictions. Only a few hours before kickoff. Who are you taking?