The NFL season hasn’t even started yet, but sports betting on America’s favorite game is already hitting its stride. July has seen a flurry of bets on the Detroit Lions’ regular season win total of 6.5, and the public is loving the over.
The Lions’ Over has been one of the most popular bets of the summer at many sportsbooks, including the number one bet in terms of betting handle at Caesars. It has been one of the top wagers at BetMGM Sportsbook, too.
Last year, most Michigan sports betting apps had the Lions’ win total at 3, and the team bailed out its backers with a push thanks to three wins in the final six weeks to finish with a 3-13-1 record.
The last time Detroit eclipsed six wins in a season was in 2017, and the Lions have 11 wins in the previous three seasons combined.
Can the Lions ride their late-season momentum into this year’s campaign? Let’s take a look.
Detroit Lions Season Wins Total
| Sportsbook | Season wins total |
|---|---|
| FanDuel | Over 6.5 (-110) Under 6.5 (-110) |
| DraftKings | Over 6.5 (-115) Under 6.5 (-105) |
| BetMGM | Over 6.5 (-110) Under 6.5 (-110) |
| Caesars | Over 6 (-160) Under 6 (+140) |
Detroit Was Resilient Last Season
Detroit Rock City more resembled a heartbreak hotel early last year, as the team kept finding ways to lose close games, albeit in valiant fashion.
Coach Dan Campbell’s Lions started the season 0-8 but never lacked resolve and took many heavily favored teams to the wire.
Who could forget the gut-wrenching loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 3 when Justin Tucker kicked the NFL record 66-yard field goal as time expired? Or Campbell’s teary-eyed press conference after yet another devastating late-game loss to the Vikings in Week 5?
It looked like the Lions would never catch a break, and no one would have been surprised to see the team throw in the towel and accept its destiny as bottom-feeders.
But instead, the scrappy Lions played competitive football down the stretch and finished the season 3-3. Three of the team’s losses in the second half of the season were by a combined nine points, and the Lions also had a tie against the Steelers in Week 10 — a game they should have won.
Things To Like About the Lions This Year
The first thing to like about the upcoming Lions season is its schedule. Detroit has the league’s fifth-easiest path to the playoffs this year and will start the season playing three of its first four games at home.
But the schedule isn’t the only thing to be optimistic about this year. America’s favorite knee-cap biters had the second overall pick in 2024 and selected Michigan Wolverines standout, Aidan Hutchinson.
Hutchinson should terrorize quarterbacks all season long and will join a defensive line that includes Josh Paschal, Charles Harris, and Romeo Okwara. The No. 2 pick should be an immediate game change for the squad and gives fans plenty to look forward to.
Things are looking up on the offensive side of the ball as well. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown was a revelation in the second half of last season. St. Brown had 51 of his 90 receptions in the final six games of the season last year, piling up 560 yards and four touchdowns in that span.
He’ll now headline an exciting receiving corps that includes D.J. Chark and Alabama Crimson Tide star Jameson Williams.
Chark played four games last year after breaking his ankle in a game against the Bengals. He’s still just 25 years old and was a proven playmaker in his time with Jacksonville. His best season came in 2019 when he had 73 receptions for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns.
With their second first-round pick in 2024, the Lions took Williams at No. 12. Williams is coming off a monster season with the Crimson Tide that saw him haul in 79 receptions for 1,572 yards and 15 TDs.
Unfortunately, the wideout suffered a torn ACL in the College Football Playoff Championship last year, and likely won’t be ready for the start of the season.
Last year provided a sneak peek of this team’s potential, and Dan Campbell should have his new-look squad fired up this season. Look for the Lions to make some noise this year.
AP Photo/Carlos Osorio
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