For the second straight week, the eyes of the football world will be on Ford Field for a marquee matchup in the 2024 NFL playoffs. Last week, the Detroit Lions knocked off the Los Angeles Rams for their first playoff win since 1991. This time around, the Lions will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a Divisional Round tilt. The Lions are now 13-5 overall and 7-2 at home this season, including playoffs. The Buccaneers have won six of the last seven games, including an impressive 23-point win over the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card round.
Kickoff is at 3 p.m. ET in Detroit. For this game, SportsLine consensus lists the Lions as six-point favorites, while the over/under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 49.5 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
- Buccaneers vs. Lions over/under: 49.5 points
- Buccaneers vs. Lions money line: Lions -273, Buccaneers +222
- 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 have shown growth throughout the season, headlined by a dominant effort against the Eagles last week. The end result was a 23-point drubbing of Philadelphia, the largest margin of victory for Tampa Bay since 2021. On offense, Baker Mayfield threw for 337 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. On defense, the Buccaneers held the sometimes dominant Eagles running game to 42 yards, fewest for Philadelphia since 2018. Tampa Bay also held Philadelphia to a mind-boggling 0-11 mark on third and fourth down.
On offense, Tampa Bay takes care of the ball at an elite level, committing only 18 turnovers in 17 regular season games. The Buccaneers also finished No. 2 in fourth down efficiency (66.7%), avoiding back-breaking mistakes all season. On defense, the Buccaneers finished No. 7 in allowing only 19.1 points per game and gave up only 15.0 points per game during a 6-1 stretch leading into this matchup. Over that sample, the Buccaneers allowed 86.7 rushing yards per game and finished with top-eight marks in rushing yards allowed per game (95.3) and per carry (3.8) during the regular season. See which team to pick here.
Why the Lions can cover
Jared Goff leads a potent Detroit passing game that is even better at home. Goff completed 22 of 27 passes for 277 yards last week against the Rams and avoided committing any turnovers in the playoff win. Earlier this season, Goff also completed 30 of 44 passes for 353 yards and two touchdowns against the Buccaneers. In eight regular season home games, Goff threw for 2,240 yards and 19 touchdowns and the Lions put up more than 30 points per game in regular season home tilts.
Goff finished in the top four of the NFL in passing yards (4,575), pass completions (407), passing touchdowns (30), and sack rate (4.72%), with top-10 marks in yards per pass attempt (7.6), completion rate (67.3%), and passer rating (97.9). Receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown caught seven passes for 110 yards against the Rams last week and has at least 90 yards in five straight games. St. Brown has 10 100-yard games this season, including the playoffs, and ranked in the top four in receptions (119), receiving yards (1,515), and receiving touchdowns (10). See which team to pick here.
How to make Buccaneers vs. Lions picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning Under 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.
Go to Source
Author: CBS Sports Staff
January 21, 2024 | 12:50 pm
