Detroit drive-time radio host Mike Valenti smelled out something a lot of media members in Detroit missed last week: The Detroit Lions still stink.
On Friday’s show, Valenti and 971 The Ticket partner Rico Beard laid the 3.5 points and took the Philadelphia Eagles for Sunday, easily cashing a 44-6 victory at Ford Field.
The win fueled a nice 4-1 week for Valenti on NFL picks, lifting the popular host to a 21-21-1 mark this season. Valenti also backed the Cowboys +2.5 (with Dak Prescott’s status up in the air), Steelers +3.5, and his Giants +9.5 on Monday night. His lone loss was the Colts -1.5, which was opposed by Beard’s Titans +1.5 pick.
The print scribes weren’t as successful with the Lions, who have now covered every other game this season. They sit at 4-4 against the spread in a winless season.
In fact, seven of the eight writers we’re tracking misfired on the Lions, taking the points and the L.
Here is the breakdown, as we’re tracking the experts for the first full football season with Michigan online sports betting.
Detroit News: Wojo still leading the Detroit field
James Hawkins of the Detroit News was the only writer in the market to see through the Lions. His 8-7 record for the week was second on the News pages to John Niyo, who went 9-6.
Still, columnist and radio host Bob Wojnowski leads the market, his 7-8 week bringing his total to 66-54-2 on the season.
All the News writers backed the Cardinals -3 on Thursday night, with Aaron Rodgers handing them all an L. The quartet all won on Seahawks -3.5 over Jacksonville.
Free Press backs the Lions, goes 0-4
On no, Detroit Free Press!
The struggles continued for the hapless Free Press quartet this week, as Dave Birkett, Carlos Monarrez, Jeff Seidel and Shawn Windsor all believed in the home team on Sunday.
The paper only picks the Lions games for the NFL this season, and they are not doing so well. In fact, the four pickers are all at the bottom of our “Wiseguys?” tracking standings.
Seidel, in particular, is having a rough go. He’s 1-7 on the season and will be licking his wounds during the bye week.
| Picker | Wins | Losses | Ties | Win percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Wojnowski, Detroit News | 71 | 62 | 3 | .533 |
| John Niyo, Detroit News | 69 | 64 | 3 | .518 |
| Mike Valenti, 971 The Ticket | 21 | 21 | 1 | .500 |
| James Hawkins, Detroit News | 63 | 70 | 3 | .474 |
| Justin Rogers, Detroit News | 54 | 74 | 3 | .424 |
| Rico Beard, 971 The Ticket | 18 | 29 | 1 | .385 |
| Shawn Windsor, Detroit Free Press | 3 | 5 | 0 | .375 |
| Carlos Monarrez, Detroit Free Press | 2 | 6 | 0 | .250 |
| Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press | 2 | 6 | 0 | .250 |
| Jeff Seidel, Detroit Free Press | 1 | 7 | 0 | .125 |
Stoney continues to slide in Circa Millions contest
Well, nearly $50,000 in first quarter winnings will have to do.
Longtime Detroit radio host Mike Stone was on quite a heater earlier this year in the Circa Millions contest.
Along with his college friend and partner, Stoney picked the pair to a share of the first-place prize from the first four weeks, winning $49,350 by going 18-2.
As Stoney told us, water is finding its level.
For Week 8, it was a nightmare. Stoney went 0-5, backing the Falcons -3, Bengals -10.5, Browns -3.5, Washington +3 and Chiefs -9.5.
Entering Week 8, Stoney and his partner were tied for 12th at 26-8-1.
But they’ll be plunging down the standings after this. Down to tied for 132nd, to be exact.
