Ford Field will host an NFC Divisional Round matchup in the 2024 NFL playoffs on Sunday. The Detroit Lions will welcome the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to town with a berth in the NFC Championship Game in the balance. Detroit is 7-2 at home, including the NFL playoffs, and 13-5 overall after a win over the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card round. The Buccaneers are 6-1 in the last seven games, headlined by a 32-9 win over the Philadelphia Eagles last week.
Kickoff is at 3 p.m. ET in Detroit. For this game, SportsLine consensus lists the Lions as 6.5-point favorites, while the over/under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 48.5 in the latest Buccaneers vs. Lions odds. Before you make any Lions vs. Buccaneers picks, you need to see the NFL predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s advanced computer simulation model.
The model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, is up well over $7,000 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception. The model enters the divisional round of the 2024 NFL playoffs on an incredible 183-129 run on top-rated NFL picks that dates back to the 2017 season. It is also on a 37-21 roll on top-rated picks since Week 7 of last season and nailed seven straight top-rated picks entering the 2024 NFL playoffs.
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% of CBS Sports Football Pick’em players four times during that span. Anyone who has followed it is way up.
Now, the model has set its sights on Buccaneers vs. Lions and just locked in its picks and NFL predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Now, here are several NFL odds and betting lines for Buccaneers vs. Lions:
- Buccaneers vs. Lions spread: Lions -6.5
- Buccaneers vs. Lions over/under: 48.5 points
- Buccaneers vs. Lions money line: Lions -283, Buccaneers +228
- TB: Buccaneers are 8-1 against the spread in road games
- DET: Lions are 5-4 against the spread in home games
- Buccaneers vs. Lions picks: See picks at SportsLine
- Buccaneers vs. Lions live stream: fubo (try for free)
Why the Buccaneers can cover
The Buccaneers are red-hot right now, winning six of the last seven games to win the NFC South and reach the Divisional Round. Tampa Bay is firing on all cylinders behind Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans on offense, but the Buccaneers are also playing quite well on defense. During that seven-game span, the Buccaneers are allowing only 15.0 points per game, No. 2 in the NFL. Tampa Bay is also No. 2 in the league in allowing only 86.7 rushing yards per game in that sample, and the Buccaneers have stellar defensive numbers for the full season.
Tampa Bay finished No. 7 in the NFL in scoring defense, yielding only 19.1 points per game during the regular season. The Buccaneers finished in the top eight of the league in rushing yards allowed (95.3 per game), yards allowed per carry (3.8), and rushing touchdowns allowed (eight). Tampa Bay also allowed touchdowns on only 42.6% of trips inside the red zone, and the Buccaneers produced 26 takeaways during the regular season. Tampa Bay also peaked in holding the Eagles to only nine points last week, with Philadelphia rushing for only 42 yards, the fewest for the team since 2018. See which team to pick here.
Why the Lions can cover
If the Wild Card matchup against the Rams is any indication, Ford Field projects to be rocking on Sunday. Detroit secured its first home playoff victory in three decades, and Ford Field has been kind to the Lions this season. Detroit is 7-2 at home, including playoffs, and the Lions outscored their opponents by 8.9 points per game during the regular season. Detroit generated 30.5 points per game at home, averaging 408.8 yards per game and 6.2 yards per play.
The Lions have a stout defense, but Detroit’s calling card is an electric and efficient offense. Detroit finished in the top five of the NFL in points per game (27.1), points per offensive possession (2.41), yards per game (394.8), and yards per possession (35.9) this season. The Lions also finished in the top five in first downs (375) and red zone efficiency (64.1%), and converted 41.5% of third down chances. Detroit is only the second team in the history of the NFL to have four players score at least 10 touchdowns. See which team to pick here.
How to make Buccaneers vs. Lions picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning Under on the point total, with no rusher projected to exceed 61 yards. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations. You can only see the model’s pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Lions vs. Buccaneers in the NFL playoffs 2024, and which side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the Lions vs. Buccaneers spread you need to jump on Sunday, all from the advanced model on a 183-129 roll on NFL picks, and find out.
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Author: CBS Sports Staff
January 18, 2024 | 11:25 am
