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Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

NFL futures, 2 Detroit Lions bets: Are Lions true NFC North favorites?

By Griffin Carroll | Last updated 7/14/23

Our team-by-team futures continue on with the Detroit Lions. The Lions have gone 30 years without an NFC North title, and they head into the year as favorites. Should they be?

Lions high-level odds

Wins: Over 9.5 (-120) | Under 9.5 (+100)
To Win Division: +130
To Win Conference: +1000
To Win Super Bowl: +2200

Detroit finished the 2022 season strong, winning eight of their last 10 games en route to a 9-8 finish. The Lions just missed out on the playoffs, and their strong finish has the market bullish on what's to come in 2023. The Lions are the favorites to win the division and own the fourth-best odds among the rest of the NFC to reach the Super Bowl.

It's unfamiliar territory for the Lions, but there's plenty of reason for the optimism. It starts with QB Jared Goff, who had a surprisingly strong season, somewhat of a rejuvenation year for the former top overall pick. Goff is aided by one of the league's best offensive lines, and has his fair share of weapons on offense in Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Jahymr Gibbs.

For Detroit to take that next step and win the NFC North, they need to see continued growth from their top selection in last year's draft, Aidan Hutchinson. Hutchinson had 9.5 sacks in his first season, and James Houston, another 2022 rookie, chipped in eight of his own.

If these two can build on that pass-rush success in their second seasons, that would take a lot of heat off a secondary that still has some question marks.

Two futures bets to make on the Detroit Lions

Lions to win NFC North (+130 DK)

Found under "Team Futures"
This one might be a bit basic, but at plus-money it feels like the right play for a Detroit team with high hopes in 2023. I've written previously about how down I am on the Vikings, middling on the Packers, and optimistic about the Bears.

I don't expect Chicago to jump all the way to the top (probably), which leaves the Lions as the most logical team to win the division, a feat they have not pulled off since 1993!

1993. That is 30 years. It's time. They have some tough games on their schedule, but this team has enough pieces on both sides of the ball to be among the league's 10 best teams. Much falls on the shoulders of Jared Goff, and speaking of...

Jared Goff to lead NFL in passing yards (+2500 DK)

Found under "Player Futures"
Come on, we can have some fun here. As far as sprinkles go, I see no problem with a small wager on the Lions quarterback leading the NFL in passing yards. Goff was sixth in the NFL last season with 4,438 yards, and he was just 300 yards away from second place. Is it that inconceivable to think that Goff could pile up the statistics in this offense?

His attempts were also sixth-most in the league, confirming that this Lions offense would prefer to move the ball through the air.

The biggest benefit for Goff is the offensive line he plays in front of, which we have already touched on. As one of the NFL's best units, they should give Goff the necessary time to push the ball down the field. Amon-Ra St. Brown has quickly become one of the NFL's best receivers, Marvin Jones is a quality WR2, and the key here is likely Jameson Williams.

Williams, the 12th overall pick in the 2022 draft, is suspended for the first six games of this season due to a gambling infraction, but he's known for his field-stretching abilities. If the speedster can come back in Week 7 and make an immediate impact, that would do wonders for this market.

It also helps that rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs is known for his pass-catching abilities of the backfield.

We're willing to take a chance here on Goff at this price.

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