Detroit Lions Picks and Betting Odds

Check out our picks for the upcoming Lions’ games:

Detroit Lions Stats

Below is a breakdown of the Detroit Lions stats for the 2024 season:

https://sportstats.nypost.com/football/nfl/teamstatistics/1

Detroit Lions Injury Reports

Check out the latest injury updates for the Detroit Lions here:

History of the Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions, founded in 1928 as the Portsmouth Spartans, have a rich history in the National Football League. They’ve experienced both triumphs and challenges throughout their existence.

The team’s early years were marked by success, with four NFL Championships won between 1935 and 1957. The legendary Barry Sanders dominated the league during the 1990s, leading the Lions to several playoff appearances. However, the team faced a prolonged period of struggles in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, including a winless season in 2008.

Recently, the Lions have shown signs of resurgence. They’re currently led by Head Coach Dan Campbell and quarterback Jared Goff. Lions fans are eager to see a Super Bowl victory that is now within reach.

Timeline of the Detroit Lions Franchise

• 1928: The team is founded as the Portsmouth Spartans in Ohio.

• 1930: The Spartans join the National Football League (NFL).

• 1934: The team relocates to Detroit and is renamed the Lions.

• 1935: The Lions win their first NFL Championship, defeating the New York Giants 26-7.

• 1952-1953, 1957: The Lions win three more NFL Championships, all against the Cleveland Browns.

• 1957: The Lions’ last NFL Championship win to date.

• 1970: The NFL merges with the American Football League (AFL), and the Lions become part of the NFC Central division.

• 1974: The Lions draft wide receiver Charlie Sanders, who becomes one of the greatest players in team history.

• 1982: The Lions win the NFC Central division title but lose in the divisional playoffs.

• 1989-1998: Running back Barry Sanders dominated the NFL, leading the league in rushing four times and being named NFL MVP in 1997.

• 1999-2008: A period of significant struggles, including a 0-16 season in 2008.

• 2009: The Lions draft quarterback Matthew Stafford to go along with wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who form one of the most dynamic duos in the NFL.

• 2011: The Lions make the playoffs for the first time since 1999 but lose in the Wild Card round.

• 2014: The Lions win the NFC North division title but lose in the Wild Card round again.

• 2016: The Lions fire head coach Jim Caldwell after four seasons.

• 2021: The Lions hire Dan Campbell as head coach.

• 2023: The Lions make the playoffs for the first time since 2016 but lose in the NFC Championship game.

Potential Betting Trends for the Detroit Lions this Season

This is the first time in a long time that the Lions come into the season with decent odds for a Super Bowl appearance. However, with these raised expectations comes increased pressure. We believe these bets will provide the most value for the Lions this year:

• Betting on the Lions to Win Outright: If the Lions are expected to be a strong contender for the playoffs or even the Super Bowl, betting on them to win outright in certain matchups could be profitable.

• Player Prop Bets: With so many young superstars on their team, the Lions will have more player prop bets available than most other teams in the league. 

• Betting the Over: The Lions strong offense is expected to put up some of the most points in the league this season, so expect them to hit the over in many matchups.

Lions Betting Trends from the 2023 Season

The Detroit Lions were an exciting team to bet on last season, and provided bettors the most value with these bets:

• Over on Total Points: The powerful offense was consistent enough to hit to the over on total points in most of their games.

• Betting against the Lions as Underdogs: The Lions consistently outperformed their expectations, making them great bets as underdogs whenever they were listed as one.

• Betting on the Lions as Favorites: The Lions dominated weaker opponents last year, and consistently covered the spread.

• Betting on Lions’ Offensive Players: Players like Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Sam Laporta were performing well last year, and betting on their individual props turned out to be a good strategy.

Detroit Lions Schedule for 2024

Below is the schedule for the Detroit Lions this season:

Detroit Lions Depth Chart

Below is a look at the Detroit Lions current depth chart:

https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/depth/_/name/det

Key Players to Monitor for Lions Betting

The Lions success is mostly credited to their high-powered offense that is loaded with young superstars in every skill position. Every player on their offense is crucial to the game plan and most defenses have a difficult time finding ways to slow them down.

Sportsbooks love these types of offenses and always offer plenty of exciting betting action in the form of totals and props. If you intend to take advantage of these this season, then you need to closely monitor the status and performance of these key players: 

• Jared Goff
• Amon-Ra St. Brown
• Sam LaPorta
• Jamhyr Gibbs
• David Montgomery

Jared Goff, Quarterback

Many believe the Rams won the trade when Detroit traded away Matt Stafford in exchange for Jared Goff. While Stafford has won a Super Bowl with Rams since then, Jared Goff has not disappointed Detroit fans in the slightest. He continues to be a great game manager with above-average arm talent that makes him ideal for an offense like the Lions.

Goff can spread the ball around the offense and take advantage of every playmaker they have. With how many stars on the offense, you can expect to find very intriguing passing props for Goff this year. He may also offer consistent value with the over on his total passing yards.

Amon-Ra St. Brown, Wide Receiver

Amon-Ra St. Brown has by far exceeded his expectations in the NFL and today has become a top wide receiver in the league. His chemistry with Goff makes him a lethal weapon against opposing defenses, and he contributes greatly to every aspect of offensive success, including total points, passing yards, moneylines and more. 

After amassing over 1,500 total yards last season, bettors can expect St. Brown to have another huge season and a massive impact on all the Lions’ betting lines.

Sam LaPorta, Tight End

In 2023, Sam LaPorta gave us the best season ever for a rookie tight end. He contributed to the success of many bettors who took advantage of the undervaluing of the team’s offense early in the season, and is expected to maintain a huge role in the offense. 

With LaPorta in the game, the red zone efficiency of the Lions goes up. He will offer great betting value in the form of prop bets this season. 

Jahmyr Gibbs, Running Back

Jahmyr Gibbs was a great addition to the Lions offense last season. He proved his ability to be useful in the passing game, resulting in exceeding expectations for Jared Goff. He’s expected to come back for his second season with an even bigger role this year.

If Gibbs can take another step forward, he will take the Lions offense to an even greater level that may yet again consistently hit over their projected point and win total.

David Montgomery, Running Back

David Montgomery may not see as many touches as Jahmyr Gibbs this season, but his value down near the end zone is undeniable. He scored 15 touchdowns on the ground for the Lions last year, and his size gives him the advantage over Gibbs for scoring opportunities.

When Montgomery is healthy, he contributes to the success rate of the Lions in the red zone. When he misses time for injury, the Lions rely a bit more on Gibbs and the passing game to finish their drives. 

Keep Up with the Detroit Lions

Catch up on our blog section to find the latest news and updates for the Detroit Lions: 

Detroit Lions: Time for a Super Bowl?

The Lions were literal inches away from a Super Bowl appearance last season. With all of their star players returning, they are expected to be one of the best teams in the league again. Sportsbooks have them listed as the fourth most likely team to go the distance, and bettors will have plenty of opportunities to cash in big on the Lions this season.

Get ahead of the sportsbooks and use all the available data to your advantage. Our professional handicapping service can help you analyze and understand advanced statistics that are used by sportsbooks to set their betting lines. Once you understand how to use this to your advantage, you’ll be getting more value for your bets and increasing your total return throughout the season. Sign up today!