The Detroit Lions will try to build off their strong finish in 2022 when they visit the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday, September 7 in the 2023 NFL Kickoff Game. Detroit (9-8) lost six of its first seven contests last year before making a strong turnaround, winning eight of its final 10 games to finish above .500 for the first time in five seasons. Including the playoffs, the Chiefs (14-3) lost just three of 20 contests in 2022, with the defeats being by a total of 10 points.
Kickoff from GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium is set for 8:20 p.m. ET. Kansas City is a 6.5-point favorite in the latest Chiefs vs. Lions odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 54. Before locking in any Lions vs. Chiefs picks, make sure to check out the NFL predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, is up more than $7,000 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception. The model enters the 2023 NFL season on an incredible 163-113 run on top-rated NFL picks that dates back to the 2017 season. It also is on a 17-6 roll on top-rated NFL picks since Week 7 of last season.
The model also ranked in the top 10 on NFLPickWatch four of the past six years on straight-up NFL picks and beat more than 94 percent of CBS Sports Football Pick’em players four times during that span. Anyone who has followed it is way up.
Now, the model has simulated Chiefs vs. Lions 10,000 times and just revealed its coveted NFL picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NFL odds and betting lines for Lions vs. Chiefs:
- Chiefs vs. Lions spread: Kansas City -6.5
- Chiefs vs. Lions over/under: 54 points
- Chiefs vs. Lions money line: Kansas City -286, Detroit +230
- KC: Chiefs have scored 30 or more points in an NFL-record seven straight season-openers
- DET: Lions have lost seven consecutive meetings with defending Super Bowl champions
- Chiefs vs. Lions picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Chiefs can cover
Kansas City is riding a 16-game regular-season winning streak against NFC opponents after winning all five contests last campaign. It hasn’t lost to a team from the opposing conference since falling 38-31 at Seattle in Week 16 of the 2018 season. Patrick Mahomes has been under center for all 16 triumphs and threw for 1,576 yards with 14 touchdowns and just three interceptions in the five victories last year.
Mahomes is coming off a season in which he was named NFL MVP for the second time after leading the league with a career-high 5,250 passing yards and 41 TD tosses. Despite being without top receiver Tyreek Hill, who was traded to Miami prior to the campaign, the 27-year-old threw at least three scoring passes on eight occasions in 2022, including three meetings with NFC clubs. Mahomes has amassed 1,542 passing yards with 18 TDs and no interceptions while winning all five of his season-openers as the starting quarterback. See who to back at SportsLine.
Why the Lions can cover
Much is expected from Detroit after last year’s finish, as the team is favored to win its first division title since 1993. Jared Goff was instrumental in the Lions’ late-season success in 2022, throwing 15 touchdown passes and no interceptions over his final nine contests. The 28-year-old quarterback is closing in on history, as he has 324 consecutive pass attempts without being picked off, 78 shy of the NFL record owned by Aaron Rodgers.
Goff came up with a strong effort in his only previous meeting with Kansas City, as he led the Los Angeles Rams to a 54-51 victory in 2018. The three-time Pro Bowler completed 31-of-49 pass attempts for 413 yards and four TDs, including the game-winner with 1:49 remaining in the fourth quarter, and also ran for a score. Goff and the Lions are hoping Amon-Ra St. Brown (ankle) will be ready for the opener after the 23-year-old wideout led the team last year with career-highs of 106 receptions, 1,161 receiving yards and six touchdown catches. See who to back at SportsLine.
How to make Chiefs vs. Lions picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning Under the total, projecting the teams combine for 53 points. The model also says one side of the spread cashes in almost 60% of simulations. Head to SportsLine to see its NFL picks.
So who wins Chiefs vs. Lions in the NFL Kickoff Game 2023, and which side of the spread cashes almost 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Lions vs. Chiefs spread to back, all from the model that has returned more than $7,000 on top-rated NFL picks, and find out.
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Author: CBS Sports Staff
September 2, 2023 | 10:36 am
