The Detroit Lions are all set to take on the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football in a Week 17 clash that looks fairly one-sided. With the Lions fighting for the top NFC seed and the 49ers looking to play the spoiler role, this game still offers plenty of betting angles you can get in on.
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The Lions enter as easy 3.5-point favorites, with the total set at 50.5 points which tells us even the bookmakers think this will be a high scoring game.
Detroit has been nothing short of dominant against the spread all season, covering 10 of their 15 games.
On the other hand, San Francisco is just 5-10 ATS. It just goes to show their inconsistent play throughout the year and we’re not expecting much more than that.
The Lions bring one of the league's best offenses despite having quite a few injuries as they rank 2nd in total yards with a staggering 408.6 per game and 1st in scoring with 32.9 points per game. No, those aren’t typos, either.
Quarterback Jared Goff is having a stellar season. With well over 4,000 passing yards, 33 TDs, and just 10 interceptions on the season, he’s looking great as they make strides for the #1 seed in the NFC. He has also been looking like he’s in superb form lately, throwing for multiple TDs in 4 straight games.
The absence of running back David Montgomery due to injury doesn’t hurt as much as you’d think. That’s a big thanks to rookie sensation Jahmyr Gibbs who is picking up the load. Gibbs is 7th in rushing yards this season with 1,156 yards and adds versatility as a receiver out of the backfield. Pairing Gibbs’ explosiveness with wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, who has 1,126 receiving yards and 11 TDs, Detroit remains a nightmare matchup for anyone who goes against them.
For the 49ers, the story is much different. Sitting at just 6-9, they’ve been eliminated from the playoff race.
Brock Purdy, while he’s been solid at times, has struggled with consistency throughout the year. Purdy’s season totals — 3,487 passing yards and 17 TDs — don’t even begin to tell the full story of San Francisco’s struggles, particularly against strong teams like the Lions.
Their best weapon has been tight end George Kittle. He leads the team in receptions, yards, and even touchdowns. Kittle has been especially productive in recent weeks, including a 151-yard game against the failing Chicago Bears. However, the 49ers’ offense, ranked 14th in scoring with just 22.1 points per game, lacks the firepower to keep up with a team like Detroit.
Of course, most teams struggle to keep up with the Lion's offense, but there is just a glimmer of hope on the horizon.
On defense, the 49ers rank 2nd in total yards allowed at 304.3 per game. That’s not too bad overall, but they’re much weaker against the run. They rank only 16th and haven’t generated many turnovers with just 11 interceptions. We’re not so sure that this defense can slow down the high-powered Lions offense.
Detroit’s offense thrives on balance and efficiency. Goff leads one of the league’s best air attacks and Gibbs delivers on the ground — it’s like a 1-2 punch.
While San Francisco boasts a fairly decent pass defense that’s ranked 3rd in the NFL, it’s their middling run defense that could spell trouble against the up-and-coming superstar Gibbs.
The Lions’ defense is not without flaws, though. They rank 28th in passing yards allowed and have struggled against big plays. That’s where we think Kittle might strike. However, Detroit has been somewhat solid against the run as they rank 4th in rushing yards allowed, which could neutralize San Francisco’s offense further and prevent them from building momentum.
The Detroit Lions simply have too much firepower for the San Francisco 49ers to keep up with.
Goff’s precision, combined with Gibbs’ and St. Brown’s explosiveness, will undoubtedly overwhelm a 49ers team playing without much on the line. We’re expecting Detroit’s offense to take advantage of San Francisco’s weaknesses, while their defense makes just enough plays to secure a win for MNF.
MNF Best Bet: Lions -3.5
Detroit has consistently performed well against the spread all season long and we don’t see tonight’s game being any different. Their high-powered offense gives them a clear edge heading into tonight’s game. While San Francisco could put up a fight early, we’re thinking that the Lions will pull away and cover comfortably.
BettorsInsider Prediction: Lions 34, 49ers 20
We’re giving the 49ers a little extra here just to be safe, but the Lions will have no problem ATS.
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