How the public is betting Buccaneers vs. Lions on Saturday in Week 16

The Detroit Lions will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday, as Tom Brady and company look to secure a wild card spot in the NFC and the Lions do not. Tampa Bay has a 97 percent chance of making the playoffs, with two good matchups to end the season. This 5-9 Lions team and then the 4-10 Falcons should give them ample opportunity to win their last two games and secure a playoff spot.

With that being said, where are the bettors placing their money for this Saturday matchup? Let’s discuss it below! All the odds and info are provided by DraftKings Sportsbook.

Point Spread

The Buccaneers are favored by 9.5 points heading into this game. The public are on the Buccaneers tonight, with 60 percent of the handle and 57 percent of the bets going their way.

Is the public right?

Probably. The Lions are coming off a 21-point loss to the Titans and have lost by 14 or more in five of their last six games. Tampa Bay hasn’t been exactly tearing up the league, but they still are 9-5 on the season, with good defensive play and inconsistent, but sometimes dynamic offensive play.

Matthew Stafford has been playing hurt, but has still be above average, but lacking of his go-to receiver Kenny Golladay. But, their real problem is their terrible defense, as they’ve allowed the most points per game with 31.1. Only the Jaguars can credibly say they have a worse defense than the Lions and we could argue that point. Detroit’s secondary is bad and they recently lost their first round cornerback pick Jeffery Okudah and veteran Desmond Trufant to I.R., while Daryl Roberts is questionable. Add in that they have the fifth-worst adjusted sack rate and Brady and his strong receiving crew should have all day to pick apart that secondary.

Tampa Bay is 7-7 against the spread this season, while the Lions are 6-8, once again showing that the oddsmakers know what they are doing. Giving 9.5 points is a lot, but the way this defense has been playing, I don’t see how you can put money on them stopping anybody. Oh, and their defensive coaching staff will be out due to Covid-19.

Over/Under

The point total for this Saturday contest is set at 50.5. As of now, 82% of the bets are siding with the over, along with 66% of the handle.

Is the public right?

Yes. I expect the Buccaneers to put together a strong offensive game while their defense hasn’t been as good as it was earlier in the season. Plus, the Lions are 9-5 at hitting the over while the Buccaneers are 8-6.

Moneyline

The Buccaneers moneyline odds are at -435, with the Lions’ odds coming in at +350. Of the moneyline bets placed for this game, Tampa is seeing 92 percent of the bets and 93 percent of the handle.

Is the public right?

Yes, but there is no reason to exchange money for this line.

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