Detroit Jock City
Fansided

Lions vs. Commanders Playoff Opening Odds Foreshadow Clear Mismatch

By Joe Summers

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) hands the ball to running back Craig Reynolds (13) against Minnesota Vikings during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025.
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) hands the ball to running back Craig Reynolds (13) against Minnesota Vikings during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
facebooktwitterreddit

The Lions enjoyed a bye during Wild Card Weekend but now know their first playoff opponent as Detroit will host the Washington Commanders on Saturday. Opening odds have been released and early indications are that the Lions will win going away.

FanDuel Sportsbook has the Lions as 8.5-point favorites. Of the matchups that are set, this represents the largest discrepancy. With wins in 14 of their last 15 contests, Detroit is poised to stay hot and move onto the NFC Championship.

Jayden Daniels was extremely impressive in Washington's win over Tampa Bay. However, the Lions are a different beast and the wild crowd at Ford Field will make things much harder for the talented rookie.

Lions vs. Commanders NFC Divisional Round Odds

Spread: DET -8.5 (-110) | WAS +8.5 (-110)
Moneyline: DET (-500) | WAS (+385)
Total: 55.5 - Over (-110) | Under (-110)

This is a hefty spread and speaks to the outsized advantage the Lions have in the matchup. Moneyline odds of -500 give Detroit an implied probability of 80.17% to win, though the high total of 55.5 suggests it'll be a shootout.

The Commanders have covered the spread in four of their previous six games, all outright wins. They're 3-1-1 against the spread (ATS) in their last five as road underdogs, including the victory in Tampa Bay this weekend.

Containing Daniels will be the biggest priority for a banged-up Detroit defense. The electrifying rookie threw for 268 yards and two TDs while rushing for another 36, only taking one sack while not turning the ball over.

While the Lions have won six of their last seven as home favorites, they failed to cover the spread in three of the previous four. There's reason to believe the Commanders can keep this game close, though Detroit's offense should prove too powerful in the end.

As long as Jared Goff protects the football, Jahmyr Gibbs and the offensive line should bully the Commanders in the trenches. Washington ranked 28th in opponent yards per rush attempt (4.7), so the Lions have a clear advantage to exploit.

Detroit still has the best odds (+310) to win the Super Bowl. Provided they take care of business this week, those odds will only grow shorter as fans get set to host an NFC Championship Game. This could be a special few weeks for Lions fans and it all gets started on Saturday.

More Detroit Lions News:

feed

Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

Home/Detroit Lions