NFL Week 12 live updates and scores: Playoff projections, schedule, predictions, news, inactives, odds

The Detroit Lions’ Week 11 52-6 dismantling of the Jacksonville Jaguars, combined with the Kansas City Chiefs’ 30-21 loss to the Buffalo Bills, put the Lions in a unique position. For one of the few times in franchise history, they became the consensus Super Bowl favorite with odds of around +325. According to several oddsmakers, it is likely the first time in 70 years that the team has been favored to win the title. After all, the Lions have only made the playoffs eighteen times since 1935.

That status has also positioned the Lions as the team likely to keep these oddsmakers awake at night after jumping to a 9-1 start this season. After last season’s inspiring run to the NFC Championship Game, money has flowed into Detroit, which could cost sportsbooks significant payouts to bettors if the Lions win Super Bowl LIX.

“They are by far our biggest Super Bowl liability and pretty much our only one right now,” BetMGM trader Christian Cipollini told The Athletic. “All within 10-1 [odds] we don’t tend to build up crazy liabilities that we worry about, but everyone has been working on it. At this point, the Lions winning the Super Bowl would be a big deal for us. If I could remove them from futures, I would.”

Compounding the growing liability for Detroit, fans tend to favor their home team with their bets, and Michigan is one of 38 states with legal sports betting (and the 10th largest by population). The Lions opened the offseason 12-1 to win the Super Bowl, but those odds have since dropped significantly to just over 3-1. Gambling money has followed that success.

“The betting momentum in favor of Detroit started before the season as they attracted a large number of future Super Bowl bets,” said Brad Bryant, general manager at Mohegan Sun FanDuel Sportsbook, noting that the Lions have one of the top players in the Mohegan Sun. -deploy teams on a weekly basis.”

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