Among the early NFL games on Sunday afternoon is an NFC North Division clash between the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions. Despite several elements of the NFL playoff picture still to be determined, this matchup will have no impact whatsoever. The Packers managed to clinch the 1-seed in the NFC last week. As a result, many believe that numerous Green Bay players will have reduced roles in this meaningless regular-season finale. The NFL betting odds have come crashing down as a result of this sentiment. Nonetheless, the visitors remain a small favorite ahead of Sunday’s Packers vs Lions clash.
The following Packers vs Lions NFL betting preview will give you the current odds, betting trends and picks for the Week 18 matchup, along with a stream link to watch games all season long.
Packers vs Lions Week 18 NFL Betting Preview
NFL Regular Season — Week 18
Green Bay Packers (13-3, 5-3 Away) vs. Detroit Lions (2-13-1, 2-5 Home)
Date: Sunday, Jan. 9, 2021
Time: 1 p.m. EST
Venue: Ford Field — Detroit, MI
Coverage: Click here for the stream
Green Bay Packers Preview
The Packers steamrolled a Minnesota Vikings team that was without its starting QB last week. The win locked up the No. 1 overall seed and a first-round bye in the NFC Playoffs. With nothing to play for in Week 18, there is widespread speculation that several Green Bay players will either have a reduced role or sit out Sunday’s game entirely. Thus far, coach Matt LaFleur has indicated that all players who are healthy will start like normal. However, the term “healthy” certainly has a high degree of variance in the sport of football. Furthermore, just because the Packers start their stud doesn’t mean that they will play more than a handful of snaps.
Despite those comments, the NFL betting odds have moved heavily against Green Bay thus far. Will MVP frontrunner Aaron Rodgers play more than a single possession in Sunday’s meaningless game? Only time will tell. What we do know is that the Packers’ offense receives a massive downgrade with anyone other than Rodgers at quarterback. Backup Jordan Love is not an NFL-caliber QB, especially if top weapons like Davante Adams and Aaron Jones also are pulled early to avoid the risk of injury.
Detroit Lions Preview
The Lions are destined to be among the top two picks in the 2022 NFL Draft. That being said, no one can deny the job that Dan Campbell and the coaching staff have done in keeping this team in the fight through yet another losing season. The possibility of earning one more win to close out the campaign is something that the Lions figure to get up for. One question that does need to be answered is whether or not Jared Goff will be available after missing each of the last two games. Considering that the Lions brought back star RB D’Andre Swift, albeit in a limited role, last week, one has to believe that limited practices for Goff so far this week bode well for his chances to play.
Whether it is Goff or Tim Boyle drawing another start, bettors can expect rookie wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown to be peppered with targets again. The younger brother of Green Bay’s Equanimious St. Brown, Amon-Ra has finished with at least eight receptions in each of the last five weeks. On defense, the Lions have been one of the worst teams in the league all season. However, even Detroit figures to be able to slow down an Aaron Rodgers-less Packers offense. From a historical perspective, while the Packers have won five straight head-to-head meetings between these NFC North rivals on the scoreboard, the Lions have had a knack for cashing NFL betting tickets. Detroit is 7-2 ATS over the last nine games in this series.
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Packers vs Lions Betting Odds and NFL Picks Against the Spread
NFL betting odds for Packers vs Lions are taken from BetMGM Sportsbook.
Moneyline: GB: (-165) | DET: (+140)
Spread: GB: -3.5 (-105) | DET: +3.5 (-115)
Total: 44.5 — Over: (-110) | Under: (-110)
Public (Spread) Betting via Action Network: GB: (57%) | DET: (43%)
Packers vs Lions NFL Betting Trends
- Packers are 12-3 in NFL picks against the spread (ATS) in their last 15 games.
- Five of the Packers’ last six games have gone over the total.
- Lions are 6-2 ATS in their last eight games.
- The total has gone under in 10 of the Lions’ last 14 games.
- Lions are 4-1 ATS in their last five head-to-head matchups against the Packers at home.
Packers vs Lions Stats
- Green Bay is averaging 26.3 points per game (PPG) this season (No. 10 in the NFL).
- Green Bay is surrendering 20.9 PPG this season (T-No. 8 in the NFL).
- Detroit is averaging 18.0 PPG this season (No. 28 in the NFL).
- Detroit is surrendering 27.3 PPG this season (No. 30 in the NFL).
Packers vs Lions Prediction
This Packers vs Lions NFL betting prediction uses NumberFire’s game projections. They give Green Bay a 66.9% chance to win this Week 18 matchup.
