Detroit is engaged in one of the most unlikely playoff surges in recent memory. Conversely, Carolina’s aspirations hang by a thread, but the NFC South is a remarkably generous division.

Dan Campbell’s Lions are 3-point favourites on the NFL odds. The over-under is valued at 45.0.

NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis

Going back to 2011, which covers the previous five meetings between the two sides, the Panthers have a slight 3-2 advantage. Interestingly, the most recent tilt came in 2020 when the Charlotte-based squad blanked Detroit 20-0, making it four years since the Lions have scored a single point against Carolina.

The Michigan ensemble continues its rise in the ranks of NFL teams to be taken seriously. Nowhere is that more obvious than with their ability to cover the spread. At 10-4, Detroit has proven to be as safe a bet as they come. Their seven-game cover streak is impressive, to say the least, but all streaks come to an end eventually. How much longer can they keep the magic going?

Despite sitting at 5-9 in the standings, the Panthers have fared relatively well against the spread. With a 7-7 record ATS, they’ve shown that they can be trusted to a degree. In fact, prior to last week’s defeat and failure to cover against Pittsburgh, they had been riding a four-game streak.

Detroit Lions

Last week’s contest against the Jets caught the attention of many fans. Two teams few trusted in September were duking it out for the chance to play deep January football. Furthermore, the battle was intriguing for it pitted the Lions’ mighty offence against one of the best all-around defences in the NFL.

It made for a fascinating chess match concluding 20-17 in Detroit’s favour. It didn’t deliver in terms of mind-blowing plays, save for Detroit’s game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Tight end Brock Wright took a short pass from quarterback Jared Goff and scampered 51 yards to the house on a play that New York’s defence never saw coming, judging from the wide-open spaces for the receiving to march through. It was a back-and-forth affair that involved a high volume of short-to-medium rage routes and key defensive stops. Dan Campbell’s side had been involved in far more exciting, high-flying affairs this year, but with a December game on the road in chilly weather, all that mattered was the win.

Carolina Panthers

Steve Wilks’ troupe is probably wondering how they let last Sunday’s home date with the Pittsburgh Steelers slip away. In fact, “slip away” is arguably generous terminology because they were never really in the game. When it was announced that Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett would not partake in the proceedings, an opportunity to pounce on Mitch Trubisky and company beckoned. Sixty minutes of play later, it was a 24-16 final favouring the visitors.

Carolina’s offence has been inconsistent all season, with more lows than highs. The Steelers limited them to 209 total net yards of offence. Few teams will win games with such a paltry output. Even though the visitors didn’t light it up either, wide receiver Diontae Johnson was a problem for Carolina’s secondary, particularly in the second half on third down. As for Carolina, both Chuba Hubbard and D’Onta Foreman learned that running against Seattle, as they did in Week 15 (148 yards) and running against Pittsburgh (19 total yards) is not the same experience.

NFL Prediction: Who Will Win Lions vs. Panthers?

LIONS

Away

24

PANTHERS

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