The Lions will need a witch and a wardrobe for a spot in the playoffs to be anything other than fiction – especially with their starting quarterback possibly on the sidelines this weekend against the Buccaneers.

Point Spread and Betting Analysis

The Lions dropped to 6-6 straight up and 5-6-1 against the spread following last Sunday’s 24-point loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The result was the fifth straight game to finish over the posted total in Detroit games and the over is 9-3 on the year for the Lions.

Starting quarterback Jameis Winston returned to the lineup for the Buccaneers after a three-game absence but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Packers from adding to Tampa Bay’s miserable season. The Bucs are 4-8 SU and 3-8-1 ATS while the over is 7-5 in their 12 games so far this year. Things haven’t been as bad at home for Tampa Bay. The club has won three of its five home games outright and covered the spread in two of them.

Detroit Lions

Matthew Stafford is the story for the Lions this week – as he has been for most of the season. The quarterback has dealt with a number of ailments during the course of the campaign but refuses to address those injuries with the media.

He took to the sidelines in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game at Baltimore after Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs accidentally stepped on his throwing hand. Stafford said his hand went numb and he couldn’t grip the ball which was why backup QB Jake Rudock played the final nine offensive snaps under centre for the Lions.

There’s a big drop-off in expertise and experience if Stafford can’t play this weekend and Rudock is forced into action. The five pass attempts Rudock made in mop-up duty on Sunday were his first in the NFL.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

There isn’t anything left to play for in Tampa Bay’s football season apart from the job security of head coach Dirk Koetter. He was promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach two seasons ago because of his success developing Winston.

But the Bucs are 15-17 SU (12-15-1 ATS) since Koetter took over the big job and Winston’s progress in the pros seems to be stalling. Another loss on Sunday could put Koetter in the unemployment line.

Lions vs. Buccaneers Prediction