Detroit Lions Odds - Lions can't get any worse
The online sports betting crowd knows that the Detroit Lions can’t get any worse, and the Lions odds to win the Super Bowl also can’t get any worse. The storm has passed in Detroit and, although the Lions odds are still gloomy, there is a rainbow on the horizon. With a new general manager, head coach and quarterback, there is finally some hope in Detroit.
Detroit Lions odds: +20000 to win Super Bowl XLIV
- No. 1 overall pick, Matthew Stafford, is the new face of the franchise
- New head coach Jim Schwartz will instill mental and physical toughness
- Wins will still be hard to come by for the Lions
According to the Lions odds in the sportsbook, it’s pretty clear that they won’t be playing for any championships this year. They became the first team in NFL history to go winless in a 16-game season, and in the offseason, they cleaned house. But the good news for the Lions is that they can’t get any worse – literally. They can’t win less than zero games next year, so at least they know that they have finally hit rock bottom.
As is the norm for a team that is being rebuilt, there have been a lot of roster changes in the offseason. Most notably, Matthew Stafford, the man who is expected to carry the Lions odds for the decade or so, has arrived. Yet the Lions betting community is tempering their expectations for Stafford because they’ve seen this movie before. They remember Joey Harrington, who was similarly supposed to save the franchise, and failed. And now, for better or worse, Stafford is the new face of the franchise, which means he’ll be relied upon very early in his career. Handicappers will bet against the Lions' NFL betting odds simply because he might be raw this early on in his stint in the NFL. But keep in mind that last year’s rookie quarterback class (Joe Flacco, Matt Ryan) made good impressions very early on, and Stafford should have some help on offense.
The Lions used their second first-round pick on tight end Brandon Pettigrew, and also acquired Ronald Curry, Bryant Johnson and Maurice Morris in the offseason. Combined with Kevin Smith and Calvin Johnson, Stafford is surrounded with a respectable crop of talent. Still, Lions betting will be contingent on whether the offensive line can protect Stafford. Last year, they gave up 52 sacks, which was second most in the NFL.
The good news is that head coach Jim Schwartz is all about improving the trenches, both on offense and defense. Any bettor knows that the Lions odds – or any team’s chances of winning – improve greatly if the team can win on the lines of scrimmage. Schwartz is also a former defensive coordinator, so it is expected that he’ll coach the defense up. The Lions have plugged a few leaks with veterans like Anthony Henry, Philip Buchanon, Larry Foote and Julian Peterson, so the defense should immediately improve.
Even so, the Lions odds aren’t great for this season because the division will be tough. With Jay Cutler improving Chicago greatly, Brett Favre potentially helping out an already stout Minnesota Vikings squad, and the Green Bay Packers being a decent team as is, the Lions are still at the bottom of the barrel in the NFC North. But with a good young crop of talent on offense and a veteran defense, this team is already better and at the very least has a foundation for the future.
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Stan Simmons first tasted football through the college game, but his football handicapping has strictly focused on the professional sport. Not many people devote as much time to the NFL as Simmons. For six days a week he works, labors and handicaps the sport, and on the seventh he rests as the games play out. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.
