Fewer teams have a muddier direction this offseason than the Detroit Lions. Longtime captain and quarterback Matt Stafford will not return to the team in 2021-22 after he was traded to the Rams in exchange for Jared Goff. The 2020 season was best summed up as “ugly” and was mostly defined by ownership gaffes and the reminder that Jim Caldwell (0.563 winning percentage, two playoff berths) was canned for Matt Patricia (0.302 winning percentage, zero playoff berths) after just four seasons. Instead, they’re moving forward with new head coach Dan Campbell.
Both starting receivers from the past two seasons– Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay– were lost to greener pastures in free agency. Replacements were brought in, namely Tyrell Williams and Breshad Perriman, but it’s a big step in the wrong direction for Detroit pass catchers. Though they could address the receiving corps in the draft, Campbell said that the Lions will focus in the run game and he’s a defensive coach. Under Goff, the Lions’ offense will look much different in 2021 than it has in the last decade.
Whether the new gritty approach is the right one remains to be seen, but the first year under their new coach should tell a lot about where Detroit is headed in the near future.
Detroit Lions odds
Best Lions betting site(s)
Lions prop bets
Prop bets are based on individual performance, typically surrounding players. One bright spot on the Lions’ offense that was devoid of much healthy talent was rookie back D’Andre Swift. Swift was a popular target with prop betting once he took over the full time running back duties. For example, his projected rushing total in the Lions’ Week 10 matchup with the Washington Football Team was 43.5 yards. That week, Swift picked up 81 yards on the ground and those who bet over his rushing total would have cashed out.
Search below for Detroit Lions team or player props currently being offered at sportsbooks. You can also look around at other teams and players using this tool. Happy shopping!
Lions futures odds
Futures are long-term bets that can range from an offseason to a full season (or beyond). Team win totals, award winners, and player performance are common futures. For example:
2020 Odds to win NFL OROY
- Joe Burrow +220
- Tua Tagovailoa +290
- Clyde Edwards-Helarie +500
- Justin Herbert +1200
This line for the Offensive Rookie of the Year would often be bet before the season starts. Futures allow for bettors to capitalize on players they think are favorites to win awards long before the odds shift away from their favor. For example, Herbert opened with odds of +1200 to win the OROY award after the NFL Draft; his odds shifted and he eventually won the award in December.
Lions Super Bowl LVI odds
The Detroit Lions opened with +10000 odds to win Super Bowl LVI– tied with the Texans for the worst odds in the league. The Lions are one of four teams (Browns, Jaguars, Texans) to not have appeared in a Super Bowl and their team is headed toward a rebuild.
Lions NFC North odds
The Packers won the NFC North, eliminating the Lions from division contention in 2020.
Lions win totals
5 wins (-110 over)/(-110 under)
It’s a total rebuild in Detroit; new head coach, new quarterback, new direction. It’s essentially Year 1 of the rebuild, meaning the Lions will take whatever wins they can get and move into the next offseason, barring a serious breakthrough.
Detroit Lions 2021 schedule and betting odds
Check back for the complete Lions 2021 schedule along with the opening spreads for every game.
How to bet on the Detroit Lions
Moneyline
The moneyline is the simplest of bets, decided by the straight-up winner and loser of each game. Consider the following example:
- Lions +140
- Falcons -105
The Lions are considered underdogs in this matchup (indicated by +140), paying out $240 total for a $100 bet ($140 in winnings). The Falcons are the favorite in this matchup, requiring a $105 bet to win $100 (plus the initial bet back). How much either team wins or loses by does not matter in moneyline betting, the payout remains the same.
Point spread
Betting on the point spread is determinant on how many points a team wins or loses by. Take the following example:
- Lions +6.5 (-110)
- Rams -6.5 (-110)
In this example, Detroit is an underdog by 6.5 points, indicated by “+6.5.” If the Lions keep the game within seven or win outright– say they lost 27-24– then the Lions (+6.5) win the bet and would have a total payout of $19.09 on a $10 bet ($9.09 in profit). If the Rams manage to win by seven or more– say 31-17– then the Rams (-6.5) would win, and the payout would be the same as listed above.
Point total (over/under)
The point total refers to the over/under line set by books. This number projects the total number of points scored in a game and, like prop betting, is bet whether one thinks the score will go over or under the set point total. For example, the Lions’ Week 4 matchup with the New Orleans Saints had a projected point total of 51.5 points. Detroit came up just short, 35-29, resulting in 66 combined points. Those who bet over the point total that week would have cashed out.
The Lions fielded the worst scoring defense in the NFL (32.4 points allowed per game), which would have resulted in higher point totals. However, their ability to score on offense inhibited the numbers from getting too out of control (23.6 points per game was 20th). The two ended up balancing out to average point totals that were determinant on the opponent the Lions were playing. Typical point totals landed between 45 and 50 points in 2020.
In-play and live betting
Sometimes, the most thrilling and rewarding bets are bets made while games are being played. These are referred to as live bets or in-play bets. Odds are ever-changing during games, which would prove to be fruitful for sharp and prepared bettors. For example, if the Lions (-110) were favored against the Jets (+120) before kickoff, a payout on a $10 bet on the Bills to win would win just $9.09.
However, say the Lions fell to a 14-3 deficit in the first half despite controlling the overall game (due to a costly turnover or special teams gaffe). Odds may swing in favor of the Jets, who may be a -120 favorite at halftime. Taking the Lions to come back and win the game could present plus-odds (say, +110). Should a bettor take Detroit (+110) at halftime and the Lions pull off the comeback, winners would win $11 instead of $9.09 (plus the initial $10 bet).
This could also be an effective way to “hedge” your bet; say a bettor took the Jets (+120) in that game, but Detroit jumps out to a 16-0 first quarter lead and is controlling the overall feel of the game, bettors could hedge by throwing some money down on Detroit (-255) to return some of the inevitably-lost bet.
Parlays and teasers
You can always string bets together in the form of parlays or teasers. Usually during busy Sundays, bettors can parlay several teams to win or cover against the spread and if all bets are successful, the payouts are multiplied. Teasers function similarly, except they allow bettors to move each point spread to a more favorable line in exchange for diminished odds.
Lions 2020 recap
Record: 5-11
Record ATS: 7-9
Over/under record: 10-6
5-11 isn’t the worst season Detroit’s seen in the last 20 years, but three of those wins came before Week 8. Over the back half of the year, the Lions finished 2-8, highlighted by a 20-0 loss to the Panthers and a 47-7 loss to the Bucs. As mentioned, they fielded the worst scoring defense in the NFL (32.4 points allowed per game) and just the 20th-ranked offense. Now, the Lions move forward with Jared Goff and new head coach Dan Campbell going into 2021.
The Lions gave some good teams scares, including the Saints (lost 35-29), the Packers (lost 31-24), and the Bears (won 34-30). The aforementioned big losses seemed to carry more weight, as Detroit performed a clean sweep for the next season.
Lions 2021 offseason moves
Key trades: QB Jared Goff (from Rams), LB Michael Brockers (from Rams)
Key re-signings: EDGE Romeo Okwara (three years, $39 million)
Key free agent losses: WR Marvin Jones (to Jaguars), LB Jarrid Davis (to Jets), WR Kenny Golladay (to Giants)
Key free agent signings: RB Jamaal Williams (two years, $7.5 million), WR Tyrell Williams (one year, $6.2 million), WR Breshad Perriman (one year, $3 million)
Draft pick position needs: WR, CB, OT