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Packers vs. Lions Updated Odds and Prediction: What Bettors Need to Know

By Matt De Saro

Aaron Rodgers is planning to start Week 18 against the Detroit Lions.
Aaron Rodgers is planning to start Week 18 against the Detroit Lions. / Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
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Love him or hate him, you have to admit that Aaron Rodgers is committed to his team winning. Even with the Packers locking up the No. 1 seed in the NFC, Rodgers still wants to play in Week 18. Not only that, he expects that the other starters play as well. Head Coach Matt LeFleur appears to agree to some extent and is expected to play his starters this week along with Rodgers’ wishes. 

However, LeFleur has not commented specifically on how many snaps the starters will take in Week 18. This is why the Packers opened as slim favorites against one of the worst teams in the NFL. The spread has moved since then to four points, suggesting that Rodgers and Co. will see some action.

Here are the updated odds for this Week 18 clash, courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook.

Packers vs. Lions Updated Odds, Spread, and Total

Spread:

  • Packers: -4 (-110) / Opened -2.5
  • Lions: +4 (-110)

Moneyline:

  • Packers: -195 / Opened -155
  • Lions: +160 / Opened +127

Total:

  • 44.5 (Over -110/Under -110) / Opened 42

Packers vs. Lions Betting Trends

  • The Packers are 12-3 against the spread (ATS) in their last 15 games. 
  • The Packers are 5-0 straight-up (SU) in their last five games. 
  • The Packers are 5-2 ATS in their last seven road games. 
  • The Lions are 6-2 ATS in their last eight games. 
  • The Lions are 3-16 in their last 19 home games. 

Packers vs. Lions Prediction and Pick

I could go into the stats and metrics about these two teams and why one is a better pick than the other. But, let's be real. If Aaron Rodgers and the starters play any significant minutes here, the Packers should cruise to a win. Therefore, taking them on the spread would be a no-brainer. But, I don’t believe that the Packers' best will see more than a few series in this game and don’t expect them to be on the field in the second half.

So, most likely, the Packers are ahead when the starters are yanked and the defense will have to try and hold back the Lions’ comeback attempts. Jordan Love will be under center with a rag-tag group of second-stringers and beyond. Against most other teams in the NFL, I would worry about this. However, I have to keep reminding myself that we’re talking about the Detroit Lions here. The Lions whose 28th ranked offense are only outshined by their 30th ranked defense. They average just 18 points per game and give up nearly 28. While i'll admit they have shown some life recently, the fact remains that this is a very bad team. 

While I have very little faith in Jordan Love as a starter in this league, I think he can do enough to hold a lead over Detroit. He already played to a close cover against the Kansas City Chiefs on short notice. And, let’s not forget that the Packers are tied with the Cowboys for the best ATS record in the NFL at 12-4. 

Worst case scenario here is that the starters don’t play at all. The second-stringers on the best team in the NFL have to play against the worst team in the league and probably still win anyway. 

Pick: Green Bay Packers -4 (-110)

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