DETROIT – The Detroit Lions are on a red-hot start to the 2024 season as they’re 10-1 and winners of nine consecutive games for the first time since 1934.
Detroit just defeated the Indianapolis Colts 24-6 on Sunday (Nov. 24) inside Lucus Oil Stadium, achieving their 10th win in consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history.
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As they prepare to play host to the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving, the Lions have become the best team in the National Football League and the consensus Super Bowl favorites.
After their week 11 thrashing of the Jacksonville Jaguars inside Ford Field, the Lions become the betting favorites for the first time in franchise history at +350 odds to hoist the Vince Lombardy Trophy.
According to BETMGM, after week 12, they’re now at +275 and +130 to win the NFC.
The Lions are the talk of the town as head coach Dan Campbell, offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn have their team boat-racing opponents while shutting down opposing offenses.
Quarterback Jared Goff has the offense humming, and running back duo David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs are the live-action version of Sega Genesis' Sonic the Hedgehog and Knuckles.
With receiving core pertaining to Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tim Patrick, and tight end Sam LaPorta, teams have to be prepared to outscore the Lions.
Don’t forget about the stout defense consisting of Terrion Arnold, Carlton Davis, Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch, Jack Campbell, Alim McNeill, D.J. Reader, and Za’Darius Smith roaming; the only thing in the way of their Super Bowl aspirations are the oddsmakers as some sportsbooks are currently shaking in their boots.
According to the New York Times, a lot of money has poured in on the 2023 NFC Championship game participants, which could cause sportsbooks like BetMGM to pay significant payouts to betters if they were to win Super Bowl LIX.
“They’re by far our biggest Super Bowl liability and pretty much our only one at this point,” said BetMGM trader Christian Cipollini. “Anything inside of 10-1 odds, we don’t tend to build crazy liability that we’re worried about, but everybody has been on them. At this point, the Lions winning the Super Bowl would be a huge problem for us. If I could remove them from futures, I would.”
The Lions are finally good, and fans are taking notice. They’re taking over opposing stadiums with their own version of the “Honolulu blue wave.”
That same Honolulu blue wave is also traveling to many casinos where they’re putting their money where their mouths are as the once 12-1 odd to win it all has dropped to 3-1 since the start of the season.
“The betting momentum in favor of Detroit started prior to the season as they attracted a large number of Super Bowl future wagers,” said Brad Bryant, general manager at Mohegan Sun FanDuel Sportsbook, noting the Lions have been one of the Mohegan Sun’s “top-wagered teams every week.”
DraftKings Sportsbook says 31% of bets and 31% of total dollars wagered were on the Lions to win the Super Bowl last week. After Sunday’s win over the Colts, the percentages are assumed to change as they’re kicking butt and taking names steadily.
The Lions are third in ticket count for Super Bowl futures at The Borgata in Atlantic City, where sportsbook director Thomas Gable mentioned that Detroit has the most total dollars wagered to win the Super Bowl by a pretty good stretch.
“We hate the Lions,” Cipollini said, adding that the number of bets on the Lions is the first thing he looks at weekly. “I haven’t seen something like this in my time at BetMGM. Every single week, they’re our worst team. I think something like 95% of the bets last week vs. the Jaguars were on Detroit.”
Fans tend to favor their home team when wagering. For example, Michigan is one of 38 states with legal sports betting and is the 10th largest population.
But the money isn’t only in Michigan, as bookmakers noted the increased interest in betting on the Lions at several sportsbooks from Mississippi to Las Vegas.
“That’s 100% true,” said Ed Salmons, vice president of risk at The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook. “Weekly bets on Lions point spread, moneyline, teasers, game over, and Lions team total over.”
The Lions are 42-16 against the spread in their last 58 games against the point spread since the middle of the 2021 season, including a 23-8 mark in the first half since the start of last season.
Double-digit favorites in the NFL are 5-0 against the spread this season, and the Lions are responsible for two of those covers:
- The 52-6 snoozefest vs. Jags is a 14-point favorite
- The 52-14 demolition of the Tennessee Titans as a 13-point favorite.
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