The Darrell Bevell era got off to a good start last Sunday.
Bevell and the Detroit Lions earned a 34-30 win over the Chicago Bears to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
Can the Lions build off the win and put a dent in the Green Bay Packers’ NFC North lead when the two collide this weekend? The Lions odds don’t look so hot this time around.
Packers vs. Lions odds: Green Bay is the favorite
The Detroit Lions (5-7, 1-4 home) welcome the Green Bay Packers (9-3, 4-2 away) to town on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET from Ford Field. The game will air live on Fox. (Odds last updated on Saturday, Dec. 12 at 4 p.m. ET.)
| Packers at Lions Week 14 odds | BetMGM | DraftKings | FanDuel | PointsBet | William Hill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Point spread (-110 juice unless noted) | GB -9 DET +9 | GB -9 -108 DET +9 -113 | GB -8.5 DET +8.5 | N/A | GB -8.5 +100 DET +8.5 -120 |
| Moneyline | GB -455 DET +350 | GB -420 DET +345 | GB -460 DET +350 | N/A | GB -430 DET +350 |
| Total points (-110 juice unless noted) | O 54.5 U 54.5 | O 54.5 -107 U 54.5 -114 | O 54.5 U 54.5 | N/A | O 55 U 55 |
Oddsmakers are all in agreement across the board. The Packers were listed as a 7.5-point road favorite against the Lions on Sunday. It’s now up to as many as 9 points.
When it comes to the moneyline, the Lions were getting odds ranging from +290 to +310 but those lines moved closer to +315 during the week. The Packers are getting odds at or near -400. William Hill puts the Packers at -420.
The over/under was unanimous earlier in the week at 55.5 points. But some line movement was expected as the week progressed.
Betting options remain limited as shutdown extended
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services extended the original three-week pandemic closure order on Monday. The order is now in effect until at least Dec. 20.
Due to the order, Greektown Casino, MGM Grand Detroit, and MotorCity Casino in Detroit are all closed. Some of the tribal casinos have closed as well.
Current options to bet on NFL football in Michigan as of Dec. 8 are:
- Turtle Creek (William Hill)
- Leelanau Sands Casino (William Hill)
- Four Winds in Dowagiac, Hartford, New Buffalo (Kambi)
- Gun Lake Casino (Parx)
- FireKeepers Casino (Sci Games)
- Island Resort & Casino (BetAmerica)
- Odawa Casino in Petoskey, Mackinaw City (Fox Bet)
Unfortunately, online betting is still being worked out in the state, but continuing to progress. The latest projections have the end of December as the earliest start date. Keep up with the latest updates here.
Green Bay in firm control of series
The Lions vs. Packers have a rich history, having met each other 182 times dating back to 1930.
Green Bay holds a 103-72-7 advantage in the all-time history. The Packers have won the last three meeting with the Lions, including a dominant 42-21 win at Lambeau Field back on Sept. 20.
While Green Bay has picked up the wins, the Lions have been the winner for Michigan sports bettors. Detroit has covered in six of the last seven against the Packers.
Another notable trend has the Packers at just 1-4 against the spread in their last five games after a win.
The public betting for the game is pretty even right now. Green Bay is currently getting 52% of the wagers on this game.
Lions return favor against Bears
Detroit opened the season with a 27-23 loss at home to the Bears after holding a 23-6 lead in the fourth quarter.
Last Sunday, the Lions trailed Chicago 30-20 with just over two minutes to play, but rallied for a 34-30 victory.
Despite struggling throughout the game, the defense game up big in the late stretches. Romeo Okwara forced a fumble of Mitchell Trubisky inside the 10 with 1:46 to play to setup the game-winning TD for the Lions.
Detroit then stopped the Bears on 4th and 1 in the final minute to lock up the victory. Okwara, a fifth-year player for the Lions is leading the team with 7 sacks in 2020. That is currently tied for 16th in the NFL.
In the win over Chicago, the Detroit offense had one of its best showings. The Lions racked up 460 total yards. Matthew Stafford had a season-high 402 passing yards with three touchdowns and one interception.
The Lions and Stafford were able to win without two of their top offensive stars. Kenny Golladay (hip) and D’Andre Swift (concussion) were out once again.
Golladay has missed the last five games, but seems to be progressing toward a return. Swift returned to practice last week, but came down with an illness late in the week and was unable to play on Sunday.
Packers nearing NFC North title
Green Bay moved closer to a division title on Sunday with a 30-16 win over the Philadelphia Eagles at home.
The Packers have won four of their last five and hold a three-game lead in the North over the Minnesota Vikings with four games to play. Green Bay is also just a game behind the New Orleans Saints for the top record in the NFC.
Green Bay has been led by its top-level offense. The Packers lead the league in scoring (31.6 ppg) and second in total offense (396.6 ypg).
Aaron Rodgers is among the frontrunners for NFL MVP this year. DraftKings Sportsbook lists Rodgers at +400 to win the honor. Patrick Mahomes is the clear favorite right now at -500.
The 16th-year quarterback leads the league in passing touchdowns (36), and has just four interceptions. His 3,395 passing yards ranks sixth in the NFL. On Sunday, Rodgers recorded his 400th career passing touchdown.
Top receiver Davante Adams also has been unstoppable. The seventh-year player has 84 receptions for 1,029 yards and a league-best 13 touchdowns. That’s while also missing two games due to injury.
Defensively, Green Bay ranks in the middle of the road. The Packers allow 24.9 points and 339.3 yards per game.
Za’Darius Smith, a sixth-year linebacker has been tough for opponents to contain. Smith has 10.5 sacks, ranking near the top of the league.
