The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-5) visit the Detroit Lions (5-9) Saturday for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff at Ford Field. Below, we preview the Buccaneers-Lions betting odds and lines and make our NFL picks and predictions.
Buccaneers at Lions: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:54 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Buccaneers -500 (bet $500 to win $100) | Lions +375 (bet $100 to win $375)
- Against the spread/ATS: Buccaneers -10 (-110) | Lions +10 (-110)
- Over/Under: 54.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Buccaneers at Lions: Game notes
- The Buccaneers picked up a road victory last Sunday at the Atlanta Falcons 31-27, although they failed to cover. Tampa is on a roll away from home, winning four straight on the road, covering in two of those outings. The Over has cashed in all four of those games, too.
- Tampa Bay has posted a 2-6-1 ATS record in the past nine seasons in Week 16 games. However, the Bucs are an impressive 10-3-2 ATS in the previous 15 in the month of December. They’re also 5-2 ATS in the past seven games following a non-cover in the previous week.
- The Lions are on a two-game skid after winning 34-30 at the Chicago Bears in Week 13. It was their first game under interim head coach Darrell Bevell. Detroit lost at the Tennessee Titans 46-25 last weekend with the Over cashing.
- The Over is 3-1 in the past four games for the Lions, and 6-2 across their past eight. Their defense, or lack thereof, is a big reason for the Overs. They have allowed 33.8 PPG across the past eight outings, while the offense has scored 20 or more points in seven of those games.
- The Bucs defense ranks first in rushing yards per game allowed (77.8) and sixth in total YPG allowed (333.1).
Buccaneers at Lions: Key injuries
Buccaneers
- CB Carlton Davis (groin) doubtful
Lions
- OL Tyrell Crosby (ankle) out
- LB Jamie Collins (neck) questionable
- T Taylor Decker (groin) questionable
- WR Kenny Golladay (hip) out
- S Jayron Kearse (hip) questionable
- PK Matt Prater (back) questionable
- C Frank Ragnow (throat) questionable
- QB Matthew Stafford (rib, thumb) questionable
- CB Darryl Roberts (hip) questionable
- OT Halapoulivaati Vaitai (concussion) questionable
Buccaneers at Lions: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Buccaneers 40, Lions 20
Money line (?)
The Buccaneers (-500) have been money on the road, but risking five times your potential return on an away team is just not a good strategy. AVOID.
Against the spread (?)
The BUCCANEERS -10 (-110) might have an issue in their secondary, as Davis is unlikely to play. But Stafford, if he even plays for Lions, will again be without his top weapon in WR Golladay. The Lions defense has been toasted repeatedly over the past couple of months, and that’s a huge reason why Matt Patricia is no longer the coach of this team. Make some bucks on the BUCS (-10)!
Over/Under (?)
OVER 54.5 (-115) is the play, as the Lions defense has been awful lately. Things do not appear likely to get better with the Bucs rolling in ranked sixth in the league with 268.4 passing YPG with three stud wideouts in Antonio Brown, Chris Godwin and Mike Evans. Tampa Bay will do plenty of damage against the Detroit defense in the Motor City.
Want action on this NFL game? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.
Also see:
- Tampa Bay’s hopes of NFC South title gone after New Orleans beats Minnesota (Bucs Wire)
- NFL badly missteps in refusing to reschedule Tampa Bay-Detroit game (Lions Wire)
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