Subscribe
Follow Us
The Detroit Lions will take on the Denver Broncos in an interconference matchup on Sunday. It's time to continue our NFL odds series and make a Lions-Broncos prediction and pick.
After what seemed like an eternity, the Lions and head coach Dan Campbell finally notched their first win in Week 13. It came in yet another close game, this time against the Minnesota Vikings. Detroit had lost multiple games by one score this season, so it was good to see them finally take one home. Now, they face a Broncos team that still has playoff aspirations despite a nationally televised loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Denver can't afford to lose many more contests, so this matchup with a one-win Lions team is a must-win contest.
For more insight on the Lions-Broncos matchup in Week 14, listen below:
Here are the odds for the Lions-Broncos game, courtesy of FanDuel.
NFL Odds: Lions-Broncos Odds
Detroit Lions: +10 (-105)
Denver Broncos: -10 (-115)
Over: 42 (-110)
Under: 42 (-110)
Watch NFL Games LIVE with fuboTV (click for free trial)
Why The Lions Could Cover The Spread
Despite their abysmal record on the season, the Lions have been one of the best teams in the entire league at covering the spread. Detroit is 8-4 ATS so far, which is good enough for the fifth-best record in the league in that category. The Lions have entered a game as six-point underdogs or more eight times this season, and they've covered in seven of those eight games. Now they play a Broncos team that has only ever been favored by eight points or more once this season. This is a great spot for another Detroit cover.
Inconsistency has plagued the Broncos throughout this entire season. They've lost to the likes of the Philadelphia Eagles, the Las Vegas Raiders, and a dinged-up version of the Cleveland Browns. The Lions just scored their first win against another notoriously inconsistent team in the Minnesota Vikings, and now they run into a huge spread against a team that struggles to play their best football every week. It's easy to see how Detroit could cover here.
Why The Broncos Could Cover The Spread
Denver has made their money on defense this season, and this game shouldn't be any different. The Broncos rank as a top-ten defense against the pass, allowing only 224 passing yards per game to opposing quarterbacks to go along with a 58% completion percentage, another one of the best numbers in the league. The Lions have only scored more than 20 points in a game once this season, so the Broncos should be able to force Detroit into a poor offensive showing.
Unsurprisingly, the Lions also haven't been great on the defensive side of the ball. They've allowed more than 30 points three times this season while also allowing big offensive days in multiple other games. To make matters even better, Detroit has been one of the worst run defenses in the NFL. They allow a whopping 133 rushing yards per game and 4.3 yards per carry to opposing ball carriers. The Broncos should be able to move the ball in any way they choose here.
Final Lions-Broncos Prediction & Pick
This is just too many points for an inconsistent Broncos squad. Stick with the Lions in a spot that they've been covering in all year long.
Final Lions-Broncos Pick: Detroit Lions: +10 (-105)
