Detroit Lions Odds
As one of the longest-tenured franchises in the NFL, the Detroit Lions have been on quite the ride as the league has grown from humble beginnings to the biggest game on the planet.
The club has had quite the drought too, with just 12 postseason appearances since that point. However, the Lions have still made plenty of contributions to NFL lore, including a player in the conversation for best running back of all time in Barry Sanders. Amazingly, the franchise has won one playoff game since 1957, a jaw dropping run of futility.
Matthew Stafford is still entrenched behind center, but head coach Matt Patricia and company mostly sputtered in his three seasons. Patricia was fired this season and replaced by Darrell Bevell on an interim basis.
We’ll cover everything you need to know about betting on the Lions including where you can legally and safely bet on the next Lions game and where to find the best Lions futures odds.
Best sportsbook apps for betting on the Detroit Lions
Signing up for a sportsbook to bet on the Lions is quick and painless. After clicking through on our exclusive links to take advantage of the best sportsbook bonus offers, here’s what you need to do: Enter a few details, complete the registration process, download the app from the site, and log in.
That’s it. You’re looking at a couple of minutes of time in total. When you’re ready to bet on the Lions, you’ll have a number of options to consider, including:
- Upcoming games
- Odds to win the Super Bowl
- Division and conference title odds, plus regular-season win totals
Detroit Lions odds: Point spread, moneyline and over / under
Odds for the NFL can move quickly in the days leading up to a game, but staying on top of things is fairly easy. Our live odds feed tells you where things stand for the Lions and where you can get a bet in at the best odds.
Lions Super Bowl Odds
Hope springs eternal when it comes to any NFL franchise, and that includes the Lions. Is this the year that the Lions put it all together and win the elusive Lombardi Trophy? Or even the NFC North? Here are the best current Lions Super Bowl odds and divisional odds. Click on any odds to go straight to the sportsbook and start locking in your bet.
Matt Stafford prop, MVP odds
The pressure is on the Lions to make some big strides this season and that responsibility falls heavily on the shoulders of QB Matt Stafford. Here are the latest Stafford odds for the upcoming game or his end-of-season awards hopes.
Detroit Lions Betting News
How to bet on player props and futures odds
While betting on Lions games is lots of fun, and hopefully a profitable experience, there’s more to consider on the sports betting menu. Props and futures are two of the other big features you’ll want to check out. Here’s what you need to know about both of them.
Lions prop betting
Props can be found by clicking through to other opportunities on the individual game listings. These are essentially side bets on specific game circumstances, such as:
- How many yards will Matthew Stafford throw for — over/under 275.5?
- Who will score the first rushing TD in the game — Lions or Cowboys?
- Will there be a defensive or special teams TD in the game — yes/no?
Lions futures market
Futures are wagers on things that will happen at a later date, such as which team will win the next Super Bowl. You can place your bets on the Lions to do that and also consider other options, including:
- Regular-season wins — over/under
- To win conference or division, or to make playoffs
- Individual awards — MVP, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year, statistical leaders
If you click on the NFL link/tab, you should see a direct tab for futures. After clicking on that, you can begin exploring all of the different markets to hunt for opportunities.
Detroit Lions 2020 draft picks
The 2020 NFL draft was a productive one for the Detroit Lions. The club entered the proceedings with a number of holes to fill, and early returns suggest they hit the right notes. Here are the newest Detroit Lions draft picks.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | Jeff Okudah | CB | Ohio State |
| 2 | 35 | D’Andre Swift | RB | Georgia |
| 3 | 67 | Julian Okwara | DE | Notre Dame |
| 3 | 75 | Jonah Jackson | G | Ohio State |
| 4 | 121 | Logan Stenberg | G | Kentucky |
| 5 | 166 | Quintez Cephus | WR | Wisconsin |
| 5 | 172 | Jason Huntley | RB | New Mexico State |
| 6 | 197 | John Penisini | DT | Utah |
| 7 | 235 | Jashon Cornell | DT | Ohio State |
Okudah was one of the top overall players on the board, while Swift is one of the best RB prospects for the class of 2020. From top to bottom, it looks like Detroit netted an impressive haul on draft day, but we’ll naturally have to wait and see how things shake out for the prospects.
Over the past decade, the draft haul has been more miss than hit for the Lions, but the club has nailed it in a couple of spots. Here are some of the most notable selections over the last few years.
- T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa, Rd 1, 2019
- Kerryon Johnson, RB, Auburn, Rd 2, 2018
- Kenny Golladay, WR, Northern Illinois, Rd 3, 2017
- Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State, Rd 1, 2016
- Laken Tomlinson, OG, Duke, Rd 1, 2015
- Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina, Rd 1, 2014
- Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU, Rd 2, 2014
- Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU, Rd 1, 2013
- Darius Slay, DB, Mississippi State, Rd 2, 2013
- Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska, Rd 1, 2010
Golladay is a cornerstone on offense, while the hope is that Johnson and Hockenson will evolve into the same. Earlier in the decade, the team found several gems on defense, including Van Noy, Slay, and Suh, all of whom have continued their careers elsewhere.
How did the Lions do last year?
Heading into the 2019 season, things weren’t exactly looking up for the Lions. The club had a tough time in the preseason and finished up with a record of 0-4, including a blowout 31-3 home loss to the New England Patriots in the opener.
When the regular season kicked off, the squad traveled to Arizona and played the Cardinals to a 27-27 overtime tie. While it was one of the more entertaining games of Week 1, it was a disappointment for a Detroit team that had the game in hand as late as the second half.
The Lions responded by coming back home and pulling out a hard-fought 13-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. The team then went on the road and stunned the Philadelphia Eagles by a score of 27-24.
After dropping a close 34-30 home decision to the Kansas City Chiefs, the Lions entered the bye week with a mark of 2-1-1. Optimism was high in Detroit as a result, but that would turn out to be fleeting.
The Lions would win just one more game the rest of the way to close out the year with a dismal record of 3-12-1. Injuries played a part in that, as Stafford went down in Week 9, but it was a disappointing second year for Patricia nonetheless.
Patricia, Stafford, and the rest of the Lions enter 2020 with the expectation of showing marked improvement. The club seems to have filled a good deal of holes via the draft and free agency, but time will tell if that means desired results for the season at hand.
The early returns signal another disappointing year for a long-suffering fan base. The Lions lost in Week 1 to the Chicago Bears and then in Week 2 to the Green Bay Packers.
Top five Detroit Lions players of all-time
While the Lions haven’t had a ton of postseason success through the years, the club has still had its fair share of stellar players. Here’s a look at five of the best in franchise history.
1. Barry Sanders, RB
When the conversation turns to the best Lions player of all time, Sanders is one of the first names to come to mind. The electric running back was one of the best at the position in the annals of the NFL, winning the NFL MVP award in 1997 and being selected as a six-time first-team All-Pro over his 10-year career. Sanders is fourth all-time in NFL rushing yards with 15,269.
2. Bobby Layne, QB
When the Lions had their impressive run of success in the 1950s, Layne was a big reason why. After lighting it up in the college ranks with Texas, he began his pro career with the Chicago Bears. Layne came to Detroit in 1950 and really took off, becoming a fixture on the first- or second-team All-Pro squad throughout the decade. Stafford has busted all of his team records in the modern era, but Layne remains a huge part of Lions lore.
3. Lem Barney, CB
An inductee to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992, Barney spent his entire career with the Lions. From 1967 to 1977, Barney made life miserable for opposing QBs, picking off 56 passes and returning seven for scores. He was also stellar in the return and a seven-time Pro Bowl selection during his career. Barney was the recipient of the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award in 1967.
4. Billy Sims, RB
The career may have been short, but Sims demonstrated that he was without question worthy of being the top pick in the 1980 NFL draft by the Lions. A stellar prospect out of Oklahoma, Sims would go on to help bring the Lions back to relevance with playoff appearances in 1982 and 1983. He wrecked his knee in 1984 and came up short in comeback attempts, but Sims holds a special place in the heart of Lions fans.
5. Alex Karras, DT
A one-year suspension for gambling on games in 1963 is one claim to fame for Karras, but there’s much more to the story. A dominant force along the defensive line, he’s a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 1960s and a recent enshrinee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Karras was a first- or second-team All-Pro selection nine times over his 12-year career.
All told, 21 players who have spent time with the Lions have made it to the Hall of Fame. The team has retired the numbers of eight players, while 18 are included on the franchise’s ring of honor.
Lions’ quarterbacks over the last 20 years
Before Stafford came to town via the first overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft, the Lions had a bit of a revolving door at QB. Here’s a look at who has taken snaps behind center since the turn of the century, listed by season and number of starts made.
- 2020: Matthew Stafford
- 2019: Matthew Stafford (8), David Blough (5), Jeff Driskel (3)
- 2018: Matthew Stafford (16)
- 2017: Matthew Stafford (16)
- 2016: Matthew Stafford (16)
- 2015: Matthew Stafford (16)
- 2014: Matthew Stafford (16)
- 2013: Matthew Stafford (16)
- 2012: Matthew Stafford (16)
- 2011: Matthew Stafford (16)
- 2010: Shaun Hill (10), Matthew Stafford (3), Drew Stanton (3)
- 2009: Matthew Stafford (10), Daunte Culpepper (5), Drew Stanton (1)
- 2008: Dan Orlovsky (7), Daunte Culpepper (5), Drew Stanton (10)
- 2007: Jon Kitna (16)
- 2006: Jon Kitna (16)
- 2005: Joey Harrington (11), Jeff Garcia (5)
- 2004: Joey Harrington (16)
- 2003: Joey Harrington (16)
- 2002: Joey Harrington (12), Mike McMahon (4)
- 2001: Charlie Batch (9), Ty Detmer (4), Mike McMahon (3)
- 2000: Charlie Batch (15), Stoney Case (1)
Stafford has been a fixture in the lineup for a decade, but he did suffer through an injury-shortened 2019 campaign. David Blough and Chase Daniel are penciled in behind him on the depth chart in 2020.
Most notable Lions head coaches
Since entering the NFL in 1930 as the Portsmouth Spartans, the Lions franchise has employed 27 coaches in total. Here are some of the most noteworthy accomplishments of those who have roamed the sidelines in Detroit.
- Longest tenure: 133 games; Wayne Fontes (1988-96), 66-67
- Coach of the Year winners: Fontes (1991), George Wilson (1957), Buddy Parker (1956)
- Most playoff appearances: Fontes, five; Parker, four
- Playoff wins: Parker, three
- Best winning percentage: Parker, .667 (47-23-2), 1951-56
Patricia has been on the job since 2018 and came into 2020 with an overall record of 9-22-1. He was previously on staff with the New England Patriots from 2004 through 2017. The club has shown promise in the early part of both seasons of his tenure, but the rest of the two campaigns were challenging. It looks like more of the same in 2020.
Detroit Lions stadium
The Lions have made their home at Ford Field since the stadium opened in 2002. Prior to that, the Pontiac Silverdome served as the venue for home games. Here are some of the key details on the current digs.
- Name: Ford Field
- Location: 2000 Brush St. in Detroit
- Groundbreaking: November 1999
- Opening day: Aug. 24, 2002
- Construction cost: $500 million
- Renovations: 2017
- Capacity: 65,000 for football, expandable to 70,000
- Attendance record: 80,103 for Wrestlemania 23 in 2007
- Surface: FieldTurf
- Other notable current events: Quick Lane Bowl, MHSAA Football Finals
Where to stream or listen to Lions games
You have a number of options for catching all of the Detroit Lions football games this season. The majority of the team’s games are scheduled to be part of the Sunday afternoon slate, which means that you can find broadcast coverage on either CBS or FOX.
As the full slate plays out, you’ll also be able to catch highlights on NFL RedZone, while NFL Sunday Ticket subscribers have access to all of the games as well. The Thanksgiving Day home game versus the Houston Texans will be on CBS.
To live stream Detroit Lions games, you also have several options to consider. CBS and FOX are part of a number of cord-cutting packages, and both networks offer web or mobile access with sign-in via a valid television provider.
Yahoo Sports and NFL Mobile also provide coverage of local and primetime games via app, and there’s also an official Lions iOS app that is available to fans in-market. In short, you have plenty of ways to make sure you don’t miss a second of Lions action.
Detroit Lions play-by-play/radio
The flagship radio station for Lions radio broadcasts is WJR 760 AM in Detroit. Dan Miller handles play-by-play duties, while former Lions offensive lineman Lomas Brown is tasked with color commentary.
The broadcast is also picked up by a number of affiliate stations throughout the state of Michigan. You can also receive the live local call for games with a subscription to NFL GamePass or TuneIn.
Detroit Lions franchise history
As members of the NFC North, the Lions have natural rivalries with the following three teams: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings. The club plays six games per season versus division foes, and all of them are big highlights on the schedule.
Unfortunately, the Lions have been unable to top the division since 1993, at which time it was known as the NFC Central. The club has been able to make it to the postseason seven times as a wild card since that point, with the last appearance coming in 2016.
Let’s take a look at several of the key details from franchise history, including the statistical leaders in a number of categories.
- Passing yards: Matthew Stafford, 41,025
- Rushing yards: Barry Sanders, 15,269
- Receiving yards: Calvin Johnson, 11,619
- Scoring: Jason Hanson, 2,150 points
- Touchdowns: Barry Sanders, 109
- Tackles: Chris Spielman, 1,020
- Fumbles recovered: 17, Chris Spielman, Lem Barney, Joe Schmidt
- Sacks: Robert Porcher, 95.5
- Interceptions: Dick LeBeau, 62
- Retired numbers: Eight — Dutch Clark, Lem Barney, Billy Sims, Barry Sanders, Bobby Layne, Doak Walker, Joe Schmidt, Chuck Hughes
- Hall-of-Famers: 21; Alex Karras was the most recent inductee, in 2020
- NFL titles: Four — 1935, 1952, 1953, 1957
- Conference titles: Four — 1952, 1953, 1954, 1957
- Division titles: Four — 1935, 1983, 1991, 1993
- Playoff appearances: 17, last in 2016
FAQ
Who owns the Detroit Lions?
The Lions have been in the Ford family since 1963. William Clay Ford purchased the club in 1963 for $6 million and served at the helm until 2013 He was succeeded by Martha Firestone Ford, who recently handed the reins over to Sheila Ford Hamp. Prior to the Ford family acquiring control, there were three other leadership tenures for the franchise.
- Lyle Fife and Edwin Anderson, 1948-1960
- Fred Mandel, 1940-1947
- George Richards, 1936-1939
How many Super Bowls have the Lions won?
The Lions are one of 12 NFL teams to have never won the Super Bowl, and also members of an even smaller list that never made it to the “big game”. Detroit is one of four franchises to hold that distinction, along with the Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, and Jacksonville Jaguars. The Lions won four NFL championships in the pre-Super Bowl era, the last of which happened in 1957.
Why do the Lions always play on Thanksgiving?
In a word, tradition. The team has played at home on Thanksgiving Day since the 1934 season. George Richards, the owner at the time, was also the owner of radio station WJR. He negotiated a deal to have the game carried across the nation via the NBC Radio Network. Lions home games on the holiday have been a staple ever since.
How many Lions’ numbers are retired?
Eight members of the Lions have had their numbers retired by the franchise. Here are the details on each player’s time in Detroit, listed in order by playing number.
- 7 — Dutch Clark, QB, 1934-1938
- 20 — Lem Barney, CB, 1967-1977
- 20 — Billy Sims, RB, 1980-1984
- 20 — Barry Sanders, RB, 1989-1998
- 22 — Bobby Layne, QB and K, 1950-1958
- 37 — Doak Walker, HB, K and P, 1950-1955
- 56 — Joe Schmidt, LB, 1953-1965
- 85 — Chuck Hughes, WR, 1970-1971
How much would it cost to buy the Detroit Lions?
According to the latest NFL franchise valuation numbers from Forbes in 2019, the Lions were valued at $1.95 billion. While that’s a staggering sum, that only places them in 31st place out of 32 franchises, ahead of only the Buffalo Bills at $1.9 billion. The Dallas Cowboys are atop the list at $5.5 billion, followed by the New England Patriots at $4.1 billion and the New York Giants at $3.9 billion.
When was the last time the Lions had a winning record?
Back in 2017, the Lions finished with a record of 9-7. That was the second consecutive year that the franchise hit the mark, but it was good enough for a wild card berth in 2016. That wasn’t the case the following season, and the club parted ways with head coach Jim Caldwell afterwards. Matt Patricia was handed the reins in the offseason.
When was the last time the Detroit Lions won the division?
We have to go back to 1993 for the answer to this question. The team was a member of the NFC Central at the time along with the Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Vikings and Packers finished up the year at 9-7 and snagged wild card berths, but the Lions bested them both with a mark of 10-6 to take down the division. Unfortunately, that didn’t translate into postseason success as the club lost at home to the Packers by a score of 30-20 on Wild Card Weekend.