The 2022 Detroit Lions are one of the most exciting young, rebuilding teams in the NFL. After capturing our hearts with a 3-3 finish last season, the Lions added key young pieces throughout the offseason. While the Lions will be fun, it may be too soon to expect their recent investments to pay off with wins. We’re will examine the Lions’ current record prediction, their projected win totals, any intriguing prop bets, and their odds to win the NFC North, NFC, and Super Bowl in 2023.
All odds are from Caesars sportsbook unless otherwise stated and are correct as of July 12 at 15:15 p.m. ET.
Detroit Lions record prediction 2022
Once the 2022 NFL schedule dropped, Caesars sportsbook provided odds and spreads for all of the Lions’ 2022 regular-season matchups. Based on the spreads of each game, the Lions are projected as favorites in only three and underdogs in 14. If the season plays out to those predictions, the Lions will finish with a 3-14 record following Week 18 of the 2022 season.
In an effort to produce young stars, the Lions have revamped their roster through shrewd free agency signings and a few explosive rookies. General manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell did well not to splurge on free agents who didn’t fit the timeline of this team. But they did aggressively trade up in the draft to land a potential star in wide receiver Jameson Williams.
Rookies Aidan Hutchinson, Williams, Josh Paschal, and Kerby Joseph will work to prove they’re each foundational blocks for the Lions in 2022. This young roster has plenty to strive for, and the storylines at each positional group run deep. However, the pathway to being even decent will be difficult.
The NFC North will be a competitive division led by veteran teams in Green Bay and Minnesota. The Chicago Bears are just starting their own rebuild, leaving the Lions in position to play spoiler while they develop. The Lions are expected to be feisty, considering nine of their games have a spread of 3 points or less on either side.
The Lions’ 2022 schedule is broken up nicely. The North drew the NFC East and AFC East for their rotational games. In general, they have a few tough matchups broken up by winnable games throughout their season.
If Campbell and his coaching staff can endure the rough stretches, the Lions can apply lessons quickly and improve again throughout the season.
Lions odds, picks, and props
Now we know the sportsbooks prediction for the Lions on a week-by-week basis, so let’s take a look at their season-long odds for win totals, the NFC North, the NFC, and the Super Bowl.
- Lions win total: 6.5 (Over -115, Under -105)
- Lions to have a winning record: Yes (+290)
- NFC North winner: +1000
- NFC winner: +6000
- Super Bowl winner: +15000
Unsurprisingly, the Lions have long odds to win the NFC North or anything beyond that. Their roster is far from competing at that level. However, they can challenge themselves to hit the over on a tough win total line and push for a winning record overall.
Quarterback Jared Goff will lead an offense needing to become more potent. Goff completed 67.2% of his passes but ranked 27th in yards per attempt. With Williams and DJ Chark now providing downfield speed around Amon-Ra St. Brown, we should see more balance in the passing attack.
When protected, Goff is an accurate downfield passer. But he needs circumstances to be right to succeed. He’s become a fine player in structure but completely unreliable once the play breaks down.
The Lions have a top-notch offensive line and pair of talented backs to provide support. It’s not surprising they ranked close to league-average in total passing and rushing last year. Their biggest area for growth is to finish drives with touchdowns so they don’t finish 25th in points again.
The defense will ultimately determine the team’s success. Finishing 31st in points allowed cannot happen again for Detroit to challenge this win total line. This is a very young unit with much to prove.
Lions MVP odds and player props
The Lions MVP odds are slim, but their player props are highly intriguing. Not only do the Lions have two premier rookies, but also a well-liked coach. We could score some value by putting money on Lions props bets now.
Let’s take a look at the most intriguing 2022 Lions odds and props below.
- MVP: Jared Goff +20000
- Offensive Rookie of the Year: Jameson Williams +1600
- Defensive Rookie of the Year: Aidan Hutchinson +550
- Jared Goff regular-season passing yards: Over/Under 3,850 (-110)
- T.J. Hockenson regular-season TD receptions: Over 4.5 (-130), Under 4.5 (+100)
- Aidan Hutchinson regular-season sacks: Over 7.25 (-125), Under 7.25 (-105)
- Coach of the Year: Dan Campbell +1800
There aren’t many teams boasting such juicy prop bets as the Lions this season. The Rookie of the Year lines are tempting because both Williams and Hutchinson have the cachet and pathway to get national attention. We can also jump into individual season total props with value attached.
Goff-related props are difficult because he’s amassed some huge statistical seasons throughout his career with Los Angeles. Detroit had him throwing the least of any season besides his rookie campaign. He also missed three games with a bone bruise in his knee, so projecting for a full 17 games will change what his season totals look like.
Some thing to remember on the rookie props is the competition at each position. Williams is recovering from a torn ACL in January, and Detroit has no incentive to force him back into action prior to October. He’ll also enter a receiving room that has two talented threats in St. Brown and Chark.
Hutchinson is also entering a crowded room full of EDGE talent. Detroit was wise to stock up on fliers such as Romeo Okwara and Charles Harris over the years. Now, this depth chart is at least five deep with playable ends, so Hutchinson won’t just have the lion’s share of snaps to himself.
Lions 2022 picks
- Over 6.5 team wins: (-115)
- Goff over 3,850 regular-season passing yards: (-110)
- Hockenson over 4.5 touchdowns: (-130)
- Hutchinson under 7.25 sacks: (-105)
There’s always one team that takes an unexpected leap each year. Pundits usually misidentify the team one year too early, and the Lions may not even be that team until next season. They’re one year away from being one year away.
Plenty will go right for the Lions as a franchise in 2022. The wins will not come easily, but their schedule has favorable stretches. They have winnable games against the Bears twice, Giants, Jets, Jaguars, and Panthers starting Week 10.
There’s room for error for the Lions to upend a contender and take care of business en route to a cover on the 6.5-win total line.
Their rookie class will be impressive but not dominant. This staff has a number of key young players to develop, and playing Williams or Hutchinson 100% of the snaps simply can’t happen.
Fading Hutchinson’s props is riskier, but he will be in a rotation and lacks a force who can draw attention away from him. Michael Brockers, Harris, and Okwara won’t be the focal point for offenses. Hutchinson will, meaning he’ll be blocked differently and open opportunities for his teammates.
Chase Young’s rookie season is a good barometer for Hutchinson. Young was a better player than Hutchinson and still barely eclipsed the 7-sack mark.
The two overs I like are related to the passing game. Goff has better quality and more quantity in terms of receiving options this year. Chark was an underrated signing who could pay off massively on a one-year flier.
Goff is the type of player who thrives more in a healthier ecosystem. If he plays all 17 games, he’ll hit the over in his passing yards even if he continues to throw for just 231.8 yards per game as he did last season. It won’t be pretty, but the passing game was serviceable until they got into the red zone in 2021.
Tight end T.J. Hockenson will also benefit from the new speedy options around him. Hockenson only earned 10 targets in the red zone last year but caught seven for four touchdowns. Another player who will produce if he’s on the field more in 2022, he won’t have to deal with double-teams as often because of the threats drawing attention away from the middle of the field.