Detroit Lions vs Carolina Panthers Odds, Predictions and Best Bets for Week 16
- The Carolina Panthers play host to the Detroit Lions in Week 16 on Saturday, December 24.
- Detroit is a 2.5-point road favorite against the Panthers at Bank of America Stadium.
- Read below for Detroit vs Carolina odds, analysis, and prediction.
The Detroit Lions (7-7) are a 2.5-point road favorite against the Carolina Panthers at 1 pm ET Saturday on FOX in a game with playoff implications for both teams. The Lions are 6-1 SU and 7-0 ATS since a four-point home loss to Miami on Oct. 30. Read on for an analysis of Detroit Lions vs Carolina Panthers.
Carolina (5-9) has won two of its last three but has not beaten a team with a winning record this season. The Panthers are in a three-way tie for second place in the NFC South, one game behind Tampa Bay, and they play at Tampa next week.
Detroit vs Carolina Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Lions | -2.5 (-115) | -152 | Over 43.5 (-110) |
| Carolina Panthers | +2.5 (-105) | -128 | Under 43.5 (-110) |
Odds from FanDuel Sportsbook on Dec. 21.
Detroit is a 2.5-point road favorite at Carolina in a match of teams that rarely meet. They have played only three times since 2014, with Carolina going 2-1 SU and ATS in those three. The Panthers shut out the Lions 20-0 in their most recent meeting on Nov. 22, 2020.
Carolina is 4-6 SU and 6-3 ATS since Steve Wilks replaced Matt Rhule as head coach on Oct. 11. The Panthers are 5-5 SU and 7-3 ATS as an underdog. The Lions are 2-1 SU and ATS as a favorite.
Detroit on a Big-Time Roll
Remember when the Lions were 1-6, multi-purpose running back D’Andre Swift was in and out of the lineup due to injuries and they seemed destined for another miserable finish after going 3-13-1 in coach Dan Campbell’s initial season? Not so fast here. That was a prelude to what has become the biggest turnaround story in the NFL, set against a backdrop of what by some measures is the most difficult schedule in the league through 15 weeks.
No team has played a harder strength of schedule this season than the @Lions (.590 opp. win pct) — making their 7-7 record all the more impressive pic.twitter.com/pvc34XUMhI
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 19, 2022
The Lions have won six of their last seven behind quarterback Jared Goff and a resurgent defense, and they are on the cusp of a wild card berth as the schedule gets friendlier – the second-easiest in the league over the final three weeks. The Lions are tied with Seattle and both are one-half game behind Washington (7-6-1) for the final NFC wild-card spot.
Goff is completing 65 percent of his passes, has brought down his interceptions (seven), and is on track for his first 4,300-yard season since 2019. Jamal Williams leads the league with 14 rushing touchdowns, and the offensive line has not given up a sack in 10 quarters.
Detroit’s defense has limited opponents to 19.9 points per game in the last seven, the lowest among league teams that have played seven games in that stretch. The Lions’ only recent loss was 28-25 to Buffalo on Nov. 24, and all seven of their losses have come to teams that are .500 or better.
Carolina’s Makes a Charge
The Panthers have won three of their last five games in large part thanks to a defense that has not given up more than two touchdowns in any of those five games and has six takeaways in that span. The Panthers have played through quarterback issues all season – three quarterbacks have started at least three games. Sam Darnold has started the last three since Baker Mayfield (six starts) was released. P.J. Walker was 2-3 in his five starts.
Still the wildest catch of Week 13, how did Sam Darnold fit that ball in there?pic.twitter.com/yjF6HU26VB
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 14, 2022
Darnold is used as a game manager – 509 yards passing, three touchdowns, no interceptions – and the team has turned to D’Onta Foreman as the lead back after trading Christian McCaffrey to San Francisco six games into the season. Foreman has four 100-yard games since becoming a starter in Week 7. The Panthers are 24th in the league in scoring and 30th in total offense, relying on the likes of defensive end Brian Burns (10.5 sacks) to keep them within reach.
Injury Report
Lions starting safety DeShon Elliott (shoulder) and guard Kayode Awosika (ankle) are out. Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow (foot) has not practiced this week but is expected to play. Panthers starting cornerback C.J. Henderson (ankle) will play leaving the Pittsburgh game last week early.
Detroit Lions vs Carolina Panthers Prediction
Both teams need a victory to continue their playoff quest, but Detroit is more equipped to get it. The Lions are 7-0 ATS in their last seven games, their skill position players are a cut above, and they are playing at peak efficiency defensively after struggling the first half of the season. Buck the trend if it feels good, but Detroit is the team to play here.
- Pick: Detroit -2.5 (-115)
- Season: NFL: 3-5-1 ATS
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Jack has covered college and professional sports for various Arizona media outlets since the 1980s and has written for the Associated Press, USA Today and Baseball America, among others. He staffed the 2015-17 World Series and has staffed four Super Bowls.
