With just under a week until the big game, excitement is building among sports bettors. The Detroit Lions are making their way to the playoffs for the first time in over a decade and many bookmakers are now willing to take bets on their game against the New England Patriots.
The NFL playoffs begin this weekend and will run through to the Super Bowl, one of the biggest events in American sports. While the Patriots and Packers are widely considered to be the two favorites to emerge as champions, there is one dark horse that many punters would like to see defy the odds and emerge as Super Bowl winner.
Who is that underdog? You may be surprised to learn that it’s not New England or Green Bay. In fact, the last time the Lions were considered contenders for the Super Bowl was back in 2002. Since then, they’ve had only one winning season and haven’t made the playoffs since. If recent history is any guide, this year’s Detroit Lions are in store for great things. However, with the playoffs just around the corner, it’s still extremely difficult to bet on them.
The Last Time The Lions Were Considered Contenders
The Patriots and Packers have dominated the NFL for years, winning back-to-back titles in 2007 and 2008. Since then, the competition to become the premier organization in North American sports has become tougher as the league has gotten more competitive. One team that fans may have missed out on that has emerged as a serious contender for the Super Bowl is the 2001-2002 Lions. After many years of struggling, they finally found their way to the playoffs as a 6-5 underdog to the 12-4 Colts. They were promptly eliminated after dropping their first two games. To make matters worse, they lost their last game of the season to the 5-10 Browns. By 2002, the Lions had fallen to 3-13 and were rumored to be on the verge of being relocated.
Although they would remain in Detroit until 2004, the franchise’s future remained uncertain. Fortunately, things turned around for the Lions in the 2003 season. They finished 9-7 and earned a wild card spot in the playoffs as a 7-6 dog against the defending champion Raiders. Their season came down to the wire with them losing their final game of the season against the Vikings. The 9-7 finish was good for second place in the NFC and marked the first winning season for the Detroit Lions in fourteen years. Things would only get better from there.
Recent Progress For The Lions
Since the 2003 season, the Lions have had a remarkable run of form. They’ve made the playoffs every year since and have only missed out on the postseason twice (2004 and 2017). While they haven’t won a championship yet, they’ve finished second place in their division ten times. In fact, they’re currently the second-favorites to win the Super Bowl behind the Patriots. In 2018, they were 7-1 in the last eight weeks of the regular season and earned the nickname “The New Patriots.” If that doesn’t tell you how good they are, I don’t know what does.
Why Bet On The Patriots?
There is no question that the Patriots are the class of the AFC this year. They’re 13-2-1 across their last 16 games and have the best record in the NFL. Many would say that they’re even better than that as they’ve got the best offense and defense in the league. It’s no wonder that they’re favored to win the Super Bowl as they’ve got all the tools to become a champion.
As great as the Patriots are, they’re not invincible. Anyone can beat them. The key is keeping your cool and finding a way to win when the odds are against you. This is easier said than done, of course, but it’s a task that many are finding ways to accomplish. As a result, the Patriots are a lot more popular to bet on than you may think. In fact, if you believe the experts, there is a better chance of the Patriots losing this weekend than of the Lions winning.
Where Can I Bet On The Lions?
With the Lions being a relatively unknown quantity most of the time, it’s not easy to find a place to bet on them. The majority of the time, you’ll find them listed as a single underdog on the odds board at most sportsbooks. This week, you’ll find them as a 3.5-favorite to win the Super Bowl at Bet365.
If you’re looking for a place to bet on the Lions, it’s probably best to check out the odds at Bet365 as they are the ones that linemakers recommend for this purpose. You’ll also find the majority of the online betting sites don’t offer much in terms of options for the Lions. For the best overall odds, however, you’ll need to visit a sportsbook that has a physical location. This ensures that you’ll be able to place your bet and get your money back if you win. The downside to this form of betting is that you have to be at the bookie’s location to make a wager. The good thing is that it’s generally easier to find a sportsbook that is open 24/7 than it is to find a bookie that is open 24/7. If you’re looking for a new challenge, trying to find a place to bet on the Lions may be fun, but it’s also a royal pain in the you-know-what!