Green Bay’s Week 18 visit to Detroit is a perfect example of the difficulties that can surround sports betting on matchups in the last week of the regular season. The Packers (13-3) sewed up the top seed in the NFC after winning last week and seeing Dallas cough up their own shot at the top slot by losing at home to Arizona. This means that Green Bay has the bye next week, no matter what happens in Detroit. Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams have said that they would like to play against the Lions, but we will see how much of the game they actually play. The Lions (2-13-1) currently hold the second draft choice based on their record – but if they lose, and if Jacksonville beats the Indianapolis Colts, the Lions could get the top draft choice. So the Lions have no motivation to beat the Packers other than competitive pride.
The line started at Green Bay -2 and has ticked upward to -4 thanks to heavy action on that side, so let’s take a closer look at the NFL matchup odds.
NFL Preview: Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions (Sunday, January 9)
When: Sunday, January 9, 2022, 1:00 pm ET
Where: Ford Field, Detroit
TV: FOX
Radio: WTMJ 620 AM Milwaukee / WXYT 1270 AM Detroit
Live Stream: Hulu
NFL Odds: Green Bay -4 / O/U 42.5 // Green Bay -200 / Detroit +170
Why should you bet on the Packers?
Packers coach Matt LaFleur has announced that he plans to use starters for at least some of Week 18. After all, with the bye, letting the starters sit for this game as well would give them three weeks off between games, and that could lead to some rust as far as timing goes. Green Bay rolled over Detroit by 18 when the teams met at Lambeau Field in Week 2. In this NFC North rivalry, the Packers have won five in a row, including the last two contests in Detroit. A win on Sunday would give the Packers 40 wins in their last three regular seasons.
The Packers still bring a punishing offense, even if Jordan Love gets a lot of the snaps for the Packers at quarterbacks. Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon are a pounding duo in the backfield, and the Packers could decide to go run-heavy and chew up clock, pushing the Lions up and down the field. This approach has worked for the Packers in the past, and against a Detroit team that may find their motivation finding, having that run game come at them time and time again could demoralize them early.
Why should you put your money on the Lions?
The Lions have covered in six of their last eight games, and while a win won’t make one bit of difference in the final standings, it will contribute to a sense of momentum entering the off-season. Jared Goff is another question mark, though, as he went down with a bone bruise during Detroit’s Week 15 victory over Arizona. He missed the team’s losses to Atlanta and Seattle in Weeks 16 and 17 but has increased mobility this week. His status will not be certain until later this week. He did practice on Wednesday. Goff has gone 2-10-1 in 13 starts with Detroit this season, but he was playing terrific ball before his knee injury. If he can play, that helps make the case for coverage.
If the Packers roll out with Jordan Love at quarterback and give Rodgers the week off, that would also give Lions fans hope for at least the cover. Also, there are some practical factors that will push the Lions, as the team will make a number of roster changes in the off-season, and players who put together solid performances in the finale will strengthen their cases to return in 2022. If you like the Lions, you might wait to see if this line will creep a point or two further along as more sports bettors jump on the Packers’ side after reading about Goff’s injury, and you also should likely wait to lock in until after the Lions announce a starting quarterback.
Final Score and Betting Prediction
I’m going to wait to lock in this game until I know more about Jared Goff’s health status. I think that the Packers will take a conservative approach, and the Lions have already gone to a run-heavy focus on offense. Both of those slow down the game, and I think this will lead to the “under” hitting. I predict a final score of Green Bay 20, Detroit 13.
Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions: Bet the Game Today
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