The Detroit Lions head to Lambeau Field to face the Green Bay Packers in an NFC North rivalry matchup for NFL Sunday Night Football. The Lions beat the Packers 15-9 in an uninspiring game in November at Ford Field, though their matchup on January 8 could be a barnburner.
Are we going to witness the Packers wiping the floor with the Lions, or is it going to turn out the other way around?
Stick with us as our NFL experts share their predictions on this game and the best sites where you can get the most value on your bets.
Packers vs Lions Betting Odds & Spread (NFL Week 18)
- Detroit Lions Moneyline Odds: (+191)
- Green Bay Packers Moneyline Odds: (-221)
- The Lions Spread +5: (-110)
- The Packers Spread -5: (-110)
- Over/Under 49: (-110)
>> Place your bets at these odds at BetOnline
Important: The Lions vs Packers betting odds on this page are subject to change and may not be the same at the time you are reading the article.
The Packers and the Lions both enter this contest with 8-8 records in a game that was recently moved to the Sunday night slot following the Damar Hamlin tragedy. A win for the Packers is a guaranteed playoff spot, while the Lions’ postseason hopes hang by a thread.
The Lions are 8-1 against the spread (ATS) in their last nine outings, 5-1 ATS in their last six NFC games, 9-0 ATS in their past nine NFC North matchups, and 11-5 ATS for the season.
Paralleling their season record, the Packers are 8-8 ATS on the season, 3-6 ATS in their past nine games, and 5-1 ATS in their last six NFC matchups.
Let’s look at the most important game information, the latest events, and the best sites to bet on the Lions vs Packers NFL Week 18 game.
Lions vs Packers NFL Sunday Night Football Game Info
- Date & Time: January 8 @ 8:20 P.M. EST
- Broadcast: NBC, Peacock, NBC Sports App
- Location: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI
- Latest Odds: Click here
NFC North Standings:
- Minnesota Vikings 12-4
- Detroit Lions 8-8
- Green Bay Packers 8-8
- Chicago Bears 3-13
Best Packers vs Lions Props
Below are a few Lions vs. Packers props from BetOnline that we believe are solid picks, sorted in order of strength.
- Largest Lead (Either Team): Under 16.5 (-126)
- Lions Total Touchdowns: Over 2.5 (-110)
- Will Green Bay score on their first drive: Yes (+111)
- Will there be a TD in the first quarter: Yes (-300)
- Total Combined Packers-Lions Touchdowns: Over 5.5 (-115)
- Will there be overtime: Yes (+1050)
The last one is a bit of a stretch, but we believe it’s possible – and it does provide a great return for a small stake.
>> Check out all the props markets for this game at BetOnline
How to Bet On the Packers vs Lions (Week 18) Game
Step One: Create an Account
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Step Two: Verify Your Info
- Look for an email from BetOnline immediately after signing up
- Click the link in the email to verify your email address
- You will then be directed back to the BetOnline homepage
Step 3: Deposit & Bet on Packers vs. Lions
- Visit the cashier at the top of the page
- Enter the code BOL1000 for a 50% deposit match bonus of up to $1,000
- Deposit $55 or more to qualify for the bonus
- Head to the sportsbook and select “Football”
- There, you will see all the NFL games’ betting lines!
Here’s a Bonus You Can Use to Bet on the Packers-Lions Game
BetOnline offers a large welcome sports bonus to new bettors, which you can use to bet on the January 8 Lions vs. Packers matchup.
The welcome bonus is a 50% match on your initial deposit of $55 or more for a bonus of up to $1,000, with a fair rollover of 10x, a much better wagering requirement than the industry’s usual 14x playthrough.
Other NFL Betting Sites with Good Packers vs Lions Odds & Bonuses
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Events Leading To the Lions vs Packers NFL Week 18 Game
The Vikings clinched the NFC North Division Title in the biggest comeback in NFL history by overcoming a 33-point deficit to defeat the Colts 39-36 after.
But that Vikings’ team was nowhere to be found when they met the Green Bay Packers in Week 17, who dissected Minnesota 41-17.
Aaron Rodgers connected 15 of 24 passes for 159 yards, 1 TD, and no interceptions, with a two-yard jaunt into the end zone for 6 to finish with a rating of 95.7. Aaron Jones rushed for 111 yards off 14 totes, and AJ Dillon carried the rock 12 times for 41 yards and a TD.
The Packers snagged three interceptions thanks to Adrian Amos, Jonathan Ford, and Darnell Savage Jr. Off just three snaps, CB and kick-returner Keisean Nixon was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his 105-yard touchdown return.
The Detroit Lions also decimated their Week 17 opponents, defeating the Bears 41-10. Jared Goff threw the ball 21 times off 29 attempts for 255 yards, no picks, and 3 TDs.
The Packers-Lions should be a nailbiter, making it all the more fun to bet on. BetOnline has practically ensured this will be highly entertaining by releasing dozens of betting options with good odds for a game with postseason significance for both the Packers and the Lions.
This is a win-and-in game for the Green Bay Packers, who will be guaranteed a berth in the playoffs if they defeat their NFC North rival on Sunday. The road to the playoffs is not as clear-cut for the Detroit Lions, however, which we cover below in our game analysis.
>> Click here to check out the latest odds for the Lions vs Packers NFL Week 18 clash
Understanding the Packers vs Lions Odds and Betting Options
Here is a quick look at the most popular betting options that NFL betting sites provide. Even if you have yet to place your first-ever bet, in no time at all, you will be betting on the Packers-Lions finale with confidence.
Reading the Packers-Lions Moneyline Odds
The moneyline is a good place to start because it is the simplest bet you can make on the Lions vs Packers Week 18 contest. A moneyline wager is a bet on which team will win outright. The moneyline odds may intimidate new bettors at first glance but learning to read them is easy.
U.S. sportsbooks list moneyline odds (sometimes called victory or to-win odds) in negative (such as -110) and positive (like +150) numbers.
The underdog in a football game is assigned a positive figure, while the winning favorite has a negative number, illustrated in the Packers-Lions odds below:
The negative and positive figures are based on $100 stakes, scaled to the amount that’s actually bet.
For instance, if you are betting on the Green Bay Packers with (-221) winning-favorite odds, you would have to wager $221 for a chance to win a $100 profit ($321 total).
Or, if you were to bet $100 on the Detroit Lions with (+191) underdog odds, a $100 bet would stand to win a profit of $191 ($291 total).
>> Click here to bet on either team to win the game outright
Betting the Packers vs Lions Point Spread
A point spread bet is a wager on the margin of victory and serves to bring balance between the underdog squad and the team favored to win.
For the Lions vs. Packers January 8 game in Week 18 of football, BetOnline has the spread as Detroit Lions +5 (points) and Green Bay Packers (-5) points. This equates to the Packers “giving away” 5 points while the Lions are getting 5 points.
For example, if you were to bet on Detroit and the final score was Packers: 35, Lions: 31, you would still win the bet even though the Packers won – but they didn’t cover the spread.
>> Bet on the Packers to cover the spread or place a bet against the spread
How to Bet the Over/Under for the Packers-Lions Game
The over/under (often abbreviated “O/U”) is among the many fun bets available on football games that have nothing to do with choosing the winning team.
For the O/U line, a bookmaker will designate a score for an NFL matchup. This is the total combined points scored between the two teams, including overtime. Punters bet on whether the actual score will be over or under the O/U line.
BetOnline has the O/U for the Packers vs. Lions matchup set at 49. If you were to bet over, the combined score between the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions would have to total at least 50 points for you to win the bet.
>> Check out the O/U betting markets for this game
How NFL Props Work For the Lions vs Packers Game
Betting on NFL props (short for propositions) is extremely popular among punters. This is fitting since the first-ever sports prop was offered ahead of Super Bowl XX. Since then, however, props have become popular within most major league sports.
Most sportsbooks offer a handful of props for a few regular-season NFL games each week. BetOnline is known for offering larger prop markets than nearly any other sportsbook for regular season games, which is the case with the Packers-Lions January 8 matchup.
The renowned bookmaker has already released dozens of props for the Lions and Packers showdown, and more will likely be dropped the day before (or even the morning of) the game.
Most NFL prop bets have nothing to do with the outcome of a game. Props allow you to bet on nearly anything that can happen in a game, from a specific player making a play to facets of a halftime show (like betting on the color or brand of shoes a performer will wear).
For example, the first-ever prop that was created by Art Manteris (director of Caesar’s Sportsbook in 1985) was a simple yes or no question: “Will William Perry score a touchdown?” Those who bet “yes,” won the wager.
>> Check out all the props markets for the Lions vs Packers game
Packers vs Lions: The Longest-Running Rivalry in the NFL
The Lions and Packers first met on the gridiron in 1930 when the Lions were based out of Portsmouth, Ohio, and monikered the Portsmouth Spartans (the Packers won 47-13). The Portsmouth Spartans relocated to Detroit in 1934 and rebranded as the Lions.
While the first Packers-Lions game took place in 1930, their rivalry didn’t start until the 1933 season when both teams were placed in the NFL Western Conference. In 1970, they were both placed in the NFC Central division until 2001, when it became the NFC North.
Some NFL commentators tout that the Green Bay Packers-Chicago Bears rivalry is the longest one in NFL history, but this is a misnomer (most-played games would be a more accurate description).
The oldest rivalry in the NFL technically belongs to the Decatur Staleys and the Racine Cardinals, known now as the Chicago Bears and the Arizona Cardinals.
But the Packers-Lions rivalry is the longest-running rivalry in the NFL because they have faced each other twice a season with no canceled games since 1932.
Green Bay and Detroit have played each other 186 times, with the Packers leading the series 105-74-7. Green Bay is just one of four NFL teams with a winning record against all of their divisional opponents after 100 or more head-to-head contests.
The longest win streak for the Packers is 10 (1940-1945), and the Lions’ longest win streak in this series sits at 11 (1949-1954).
The Packers-Lions rivalry is especially significant to football fans in the Upper Peninsula of the state of Michigan.
Most fans from the west of the peninsula support the Pack, while those east and the remainder of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula tend to support the Honolulu Blue and Silver. In Michigan, the Packers and Lions rivalry is commonly referred to as the Yooper Bowl.
Here is a quick look at just a few of many notable moments the Packers-Lions rivalry has produced:
- Nov. 24, 1940: In their most lopsided game ever, the Packers led 43–0 and won 50–7.
- Oct. 7, 1945: By scoring 41 points in a single quarter, the Packers set (and currently maintain) an NFL record. The Lions led 7-0 in the second quarter until the Packers scored six straight TDs, including four receiving TDs by Don Hutson.
- Dec. 3, 2015: The Packs erased a 20-point deficit to beat the Lions 27-23 in the rivalry’s biggest comeback. Detroit was poised to win 23-21 when a penalty was called as time expired. Games can’t end on a defensive penalty, so the Packs received an untimed play that resulted in Aaron Rodgers delivering a 61-yard Hail Mary to Richard Rodgers II.
- Jan. 1, 2017: In week 17, the Packers and Lions met for the second time in three seasons for the NFC North Division Title. The Lions led 14-10 at halftime, but the Packers responded with a 21-3 scoring surge highlighted by three Aaron Rodgers TD passes that looked to put the game away.
- Dec. 30, 2018: The Lions delivered the Packers a goose egg for the first time since 1973, winning the game 31-0, and for the first time at Lambeau Field since 1970.
Detroit is currently on a two-game win streak against the Packers, and a Lions victory at Lambeau Field could put them in the playoffs if luck is on their side, or it’s going to take some luck and, possibly, the NFL adjusting the playoffs scheme.
>> Click here to place a bet on the Lions vs Packers game
Latest News On the NFL Playoffs Bracket Ahead of Week 18
The Packers’ mission is clear, defeat Detroit and advance to the NFC playoffs. But two situations must play out for the Lions to definitively make the playoffs: the largely incapable Rams must win against the Seahawks, and Detroit must defeat their division rival, the Packers.
But here’s the kicker: the Rams play Seattle Sunday afternoon ahead of the Packers-Lions game. So, if Seattle defeats Los Angeles, which they likely will, Green Bay will have a huge advantage over Detroit.
While this situation is not ideal, it is understandable since it’s a result of Damar Hamlin’s injury. The Bills-Bengals game being canceled for the season put the NFL playoffs in a curious position.
The Bills (12-3) and Bengals (11-4) are both vying for the AFC’s top seed. However, because the Chiefs (13-3) have now played an additional game, they lead the Bills by percentage points.
The No. 1 overall seed in each conference receives a first-round bye, which is a huge advantage. The placement of the Bills and Bengals would also decide who plays the No. 6 seed and who plays the No. 7 seed — and the quality of those two opponents will be vastly different.
A rumored adjustment to the playoffs bracket by the NFL, which would have to be approved by the NFL Players Association, could help fix the tricky situation, and as a result, the Detroit Lions would be in a much better position to earn a playoff spot.
A report by Mike Florio of NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk revealed that the NFL is likely to add an eighth team to the playoff field in the AFC and, to “ensure competitive balance,” the NFC, as well.
If this scenario were to come to fruition, the Rams-Seahawks game will not impact the Lions’ chances of earning a playoff berth; Detroit’s postseason fate would lie solely in their hands in a must-win game against the Packers.
>> Check the latest odds for all NFL Week 18 matchups here
Green Bay Packers vs Detroit Lions Analysis & Picks: NFL Week 18
The Detroit Lions by the Numbers
The Lions average 27.1 PPG, passing for 29 TDs and rushing for 21. They rank 11th in the NFL in the run game with an average of 129.7 rushing yards. Detroit has turned the football over 15 times (7 picks and 8 fumbles).
The Detroit team defense ranks 30th in the NFL, allowing 25.7 PPG. In 16 games, they have given up 2,388 yards on the ground. The Lions have allowed 3,991 yards in the air, which ranks them 30th in the NFL.
Overall, the Lions have allowed 398.7 yards per game, ranking them 32nd in the league. They’ve given up 25 passing touchdowns and 22 on the ground.
>> Bet on Detroit Lions to win the game
The Green Bay Packers by the Numbers
The Green Bay Packers have accumulated 3,444 yards in the air and an average of 215.3 passing yards per game, ranking them 17th in football. The Packers scored 22 passing TDs and 195.6 YPG, which ranks them fourth in the league.
In terms of scoring, the Packers rank 14th in the NFL with an average of 22.1 PPG. The Green Bay offense has given their opponents 712 penalty yards on 85 flags, and they have 24 turnovers (7 fumbles and 17 interceptions) for the season.
The Green Bay defense has given up a total of 2,268 (141.8 YPG) and 16 TDs on the ground. The Packers defense has participated in 931 plays, which ranks second in football. Green Bay has surrendered 351 total points, and 21.9 PPG, ranking them 17th in the NFL.
>> Bet on Green Bay Packers to win the game
Best Packers vs Lions Picks (NFL Week 18)
The Packers and Lions have more in common this season than just playing in the NFC North. Both teams hold the same record, turning their respective season around.
The Packers’ chance for the playoffs looked bleak with a 4-8 record earlier in the season, and the Lions appeared to be on the course of a losing season with a record of 4-7; few fans would have bet that by Week 18, the two teams would be playing for a chance at the NFC playoffs.
The Green Bay Packers are the odds-on favorite straight up, and they have won 17 games straight up against the Lions in the last 20 games played in Lambeau Field.
We could certainly see the Packers pulling this one off, especially with the likes of Aaron Rodgers gunning for the playoffs, but not when the spread is concerned, which is where we are putting our money.
The Lions have been great at covering the spread against Green Bay, going 9-2 ATS in their last 11 matchups, winning or losing by less than 5 points in 8 of them.
We think the NFL will add an eighth team to the playoffs, so the Lions should have some added steam to them against the Green Bay Packers.
We have no reason not to follow the Lions’ ATS trends in this NFC North division rivalry game.
Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur and Detroit coach Dan Campbell will no doubt have some tricks up their sleeves to keep this game close. We think this matchup will be a seesaw battle, possibly determined by a FG, so we are more than happy to grab the points and back the Lions.
We also could see the score getting high on this one, cautiously betting on the over. While the first Packers-Lions game this season barely reached over 20 points, these two teams are now playing better football.
The Packers have put up 24 or more points in their past five games, while the Lions have scored 20 or more in the last eight.
Packers vs. Lions Picks:
>> Make a same-game parlay with these two bets at BetOnline for a better payout
For more betting options, BetOnline has some solid props for the Packers-Lions game that we feel are also worth some action.
Why Bet on the Packers-Lions Game at BetOnline?
Here are just a few reasons why we recommend betting on the Week 18 game between the Packers and the Lions at BetOnline, which has maintained an excellent reputation among its clients since its inception in 2004.
Robust Sportsbook & Betting Markets: Thousands of bettors use BetOnline to bet on the NFL because they provide some of the most competitive betting odds, including the best underdog odds for the Lions in their Week 18 game against the Green Bay Packers. In addition, they stock over 50 markets that generate 1,000+ daily betting options.
Innovative Design: BetOnline’s user-friendly interface is straightforward and enjoyable to use, thanks to some outstanding software. The sportsbook boasts lightning-fast reaction times, and is simple to use, and creating props and placing bets has never been easier.
Security & Payouts: Above all, punters choose BetOnline because it is a regulated online sportsbook with a stellar reputation for safe transactions and timely and dependable payments. All deposits are carefully stored in an insured escrow account, all transactions are encoded and encrypted, and withdrawals are completed quickly.
Previously in NFL Week 17:
- Bears vs Lions betting odds
- Bengals vs Bills
- Steelers vs Ravens betting lines
- Packers vs Vikings odds
- Chiefs vs Broncos betting odds
- Saints vs Eagles predictions
Why You Should Bet on the Packers-Lions Game Online?
Some traditional bettors continue to wager on NFL games at land-based sportsbooks, but the great majority choose to do it online for a number of reasons.
Not only will you save time betting online because you can do it from anywhere, but you will also be able to take advantage of betting odds as soon as they are posted and before the lines may alter.
Top-rated online sportsbook BetOnline provides more betting markets than brick-and-mortar bookmakers for the Packers vs. Lions Week 18 contest, including same-game teasers, props, and live in-game betting.
Furthermore, your local bookie is unlikely to give you a bonus for betting on the Green Bay Packers-Detroit Lions NFC North game; however, new BetOnline customers can score a bonus of up to $1,000 when they sign up.
Related Betting Guides:
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NFC North Matchup: Are You Backing the Packers or the Lions With Your Bets?
As we prepare to bid the NFL regular season adieu, we couldn’t think of a more exciting NFC North contest to close out Sunday Night Football in Week 18 than the Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions game.
We are taking the 5 points against the spread in favor of the Lions (-110), and we also have a slight lean on the game going over 49 points (-110).
And we also feel strongly about our top Packers-Lions prop, available at BetOnline: Largest Lead (Either Team) — Under 16.5 (-126).
Whether you are taking the points and betting on the Lions against the spread or putting your money on any of the other 50+ betting options at BetOnline, please wager responsibly and remember to have fun!
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