Green Bay Packers Keep NFL Playoff Hopes Alive vs Detroit Lions in Week 18

Somehow, someway, after emerging as one of the biggest disappointments of the 2022 football season, the Green Bay Packers still have favorable odds to make the NFL playoffs. But can they actually get the job done? Experts everywhere aren't so sure.

For starters, the Packers need a Week 18 win over the Detroit Lions. The last time these two teams met, though, the Lions stuck it to the Packers. Detroit has since gone 6-2 overall and re-entered the playoff discussion themselves.

With both teams in dire need of a victory when they face off on Sunday, January 8, at 8:15 p.m EST, oddsmakers are currently favoring the Packers. Here's a look at the latest NFL online betting odds for Green Bay vs. Detroit, courtesy of BetOnline:

Favorite			Underdog
Green Bay Packers	-225	+188	Detroit Lions

Always remember to double-check these online NFL betting odds right up until you actually submit your wager. All of our Packers vs. Lions betting odds are accurate entering Wednesday, January 4. That gives linemakers a few days to futz and fiddle with their odds, and since the final week of the NFL season is prone to curveballs, you can expect these numbers to shift throughout the week.

However, you don't have to worry about getting the most accurate NFL betting odds so long as you sign up with the right bookmaker. That's where our reviews of the top online sportsbooks come in. We have dug into every detail of each option, so you'll have no trouble finding the best online betting sites for NFL football.

And without further ado, let's cannonball into our Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions Week 18 picks!

Can the Green Bay Packers Exact Revenge Over the Red-Hot Detroit Lions?

The Lions will end up being a trendy underdog pick in Week 18. Not only are they 6-2 over their past eight games, but the Packers did not fare all that well when entering games as the favorite.

Still, we can’t help but gravitate toward the home team here.

For all their struggles, the Packers do have a winning record at Lambeau Field (5-3). And while they have a tendency to play down to the level of their opponent, Aaron Rodgers and the rest of the offense has looked more steady over this current four-game winning streak, during which time Green Bay is averaging nearly 30 points per contest.

Propping up that level of efficiency shouldn’t be too difficult. The Lions are 29th in points allowed per game and deploy one of the most forgiving passing defenses in the league. Even if Rodgers isn’t on his A-game, he should be able to spin his wheels to a trio of touchdown passes.

To the Lions’ credit, they enter as a top-five offense, and they are not a roster that will struggle to deal with the low temperatures in Green Bay. On the flip side, however, Detroit’s offense has absolutely plummeted in recent weeks. They just hung 41 points on the Chicago Bears, but they failed to crack the 25-point plateau in each of their two previous matchups.

Really, given how much both defenses have struggled, this matchup comes down to whether you trust Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay) or Jason Goff (more). The answer, in that case, is an easy one. Go with Rodgers and the Packers.

OSB Prediction: Green Bay Packers (-225)

Green Bay Packers To beat the Detroit Lions

-225

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The Spread Keeps Moving for Green Bay vs. Detroit...So, Who Will Cover It?

Here is the latest NFL point spread betting odds for Packers vs. Lions in Week 18:

Green Bay Packers, -4.5 (-110)
Detroit Lions, +4.5 (-110)

So much for the Lions being a trendy pick.

Detroit opened up as a +3 underdog to start the week. Bettors ended up flocking towards the Packers, which prompted linemakers to drop the Lions to a +4.5. That's a much tougher number to grapple with. Green Bay hasn't exactly made a living out of winning games by comfortable margins.

On the other hand, the Packers' recent performances are somewhat encouraging. They just beat the Minnesota Vikings by 24 points in Week 17, and they bagged a 12-point victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 15. What's more, the five games they've won at home have come by an average of nearly 12 points.

It absolutely matters that Detroit doesn't have many blowout losses under its belt. But higher-variances scores are peppered throughout their results over the past few weeks. They aren't able to pile on the points when teams take away their downfield throws—and it just so happens that's one area in which Green Bay's defense excels.

OSB Prediction: Green Bay Packers, -4.5 (-110)

Green Bay Packers To cover the spread against the Detroit Lions

-110

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