2015 NFL Football – Lions Analysis
The Detroit Lions have the opposite of a ‘luxury’ when it comes to the polar ends of their schedule. The 2015-16 NFL Season sees Detroit face a tough stretch to start the year, and then an equally troublesome stretch to close out the season.
Lions Odds
2015 Detroit Lions Odds to win the 2016 Super Bowl: 45/1
2015 Detroit Lions Odds to win the 2015 NFC Conference: 20/1
2015 Season Win Total: Lions 8.5 wins (OVER -105 , UNDER -135); 2014 wins: 11
***2015 BONUSES***
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The Lions enter this season knowing that a strong start would be wonderful, but the schedule balances out enough that they should be able to contend for a playoff position even if the struggle is real early in the year.
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Let’s take a look at each game on Detroit’s schedule and determine whether or not to bet over or under on the 8.5 games predicted for this group this year.
Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 13 @ San Diego (4:05 p.m.)
Week 1 is a trip Detroit actually wanted toward the end of 2015-16, not the start of the year. Against a retooling Lions D, San Diego’s offense could have plenty of time in the pocket. Look for a loss to start the season.
Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 20 @ Minnesota (1 p.m. FOX)
Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley gone? Bad news bears against a Vikings squad that will seemingly have Adrian Peterson back. Let’s chalk this up as a loss for the Lions.
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 27 vs. Denver (8:30 p.m.)
There’s no way the Lions start this season 0-3. There’s just not. And with the first two road games looking like a loss, let’s get a Sunday evening game against the Denver Broncos as the breakout contest for this group early in the year.
Week 4: Monday, Oct. 5 at Seattle vs. (8:30 p.m.)
Week 4 features an ESPN game on Monday Night Football for the Lions. As much as Detroit would love to show up for this contest, the Seahawks will look to do just the same in the Pacific Northwest.
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 11 vs. Arizona (4:05 p.m.)
Detroit’s looking desperate at this point in the season, but that’s not going to help them against an Arizona Cardinals squad that is looking to prove last year’s disappointing finish was just a fluke. Another loss for Detroit, but thing should be looking up shortly.
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 18 vs. Chicago, 1 p.m. FOX
Detroit has been victorious against the Bears in Chicago both of the past two years, and have also been victorious four times in a row for the first time since the ’70s.
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Detroit needs this one, and it’ll get it.
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 25 vs. Minnesota, 1 p.m. FOX
Detroit is 2-4 at this point, based on our projections. Minnesotate grabbed one against the Lions early in the year, but the stakes have changed for Detroit. Win win win…
Week 8: Sunday, Nov. 1 vs. Kansas City (London) –( 9:30 a.m.)
Detroit went to Londo in 2014-15 to play Atlanta. That won’t make this an easy victory, but it could very well be the difference in a close contests versus Kansas City in Week 8.
Week 9: Bye
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 15 @ Green Bay (1 p.m.)
If we’re being honest, the Green Bay Packers aren’t going to lose many games this year. Don’t count on Week 10 being one of those rare losses.
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 22 vs. Oakland (1 p.m.)
The Lions should learn something after a week against the Packers. Detroit will look to shake up Derek Carr in this one — likely to the tune of a double-digit victory.
Week 12: Thursday, Nov. 26 vs. Philadelphia (12:30 p.m.)
Chip Kelly’s Philadelphia Eagles are a sleeper for a Super Bowl appearance this season. Only problem? We aren’t buying it. This one will be close, but home-field advantage will play its role, and the Eagles will walk away without the victory that they need at this point in the season.
Week 13: Thursday, Dec. 3 vs. Green Bay (8:25 p.m.)
Green Bay may be a Super Bowl favorite at this point in the season, but the Pack has actually struggled at Ford Field. A close one goes to the Lions here.
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 13 @ St. Louis (1 p.m.)
The Rams just seem more dangerous than they usually do. And if they’ve clicked the way teams across the league fear they might entering Week 14, you could be looking at a costly loss for the Lions here.
Week 15: Monday, Dec. 21 @ New Orleans (8:30 p.m.)
This one’s going to be a barn-burner.
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Both teams are going to be rolling despite changes during the offseason, but while both squads could conceivably walk away victorious, look for the Saints to come away with the victory in Week 15 with home-field advantage.
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 27 vs. San Francisco (1 p.m.)
Back at home or a contest against the San Francisco 49ers: Which means more late in the year? In seasons past, it would have been the former. At this juncture, who can tell? Either way, Lions win.
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016 at Chicago, 1 p.m., FOX
Detroit walked away victorious in December of 2014, but this is still a franchise that struggles in December to wash away all hopes of the postseason. Unfortunately, look for the Lions to do just that in the final regular-season contest of 2015-16.
2015 Lions NFL Prediction
We’re looking at the Lions going 8-8 this season. Under their projection, and a step down from last season. But a rough state to the year will do that to you. Here’s to hoping the Lions get a better deal next season.
The 2015 NFL futures betting season is right around the corner! If you like to bet on the NFL, you are in the best possible place for online betting.
CappersPicks.com has NFL odds up on a ton of futures, and you will also find NFL lines up for early games as well.
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