Lions Loss Is a Win for the Michigan Sportsbooks

Michigan bookmakers avoided significant losses as Detroit Lions faltered in the second half of the NFC Championship game and lost to the 49ers, as a great number of moneyline and futures bets tanked in the process.
Lions Loss Is a Win for the Michigan Sportsbooks
By
January 31, 2024

It was a big weekend for all the NFL fans out there, as the two Championship matches leading up to the Big Game were played on Sunday and Monday.

The 49ers’ and Chiefs’ fans had much to celebrate, while the supporters of Lions and Ravens were left in tears, with Detroit fans in particular left in shock as their boys lost a 17-point lead in the second half.

For Michigan sports betting operators, however, the Lions’ defeat was a highly lucrative outcome, as the top sportsbooks were on the line for millions if Detroit won the game and even more if they went on to win the Super Bowl as well.

While the Lions fans lost both the hopes of their team winning the Super Bowl and the money they wagered on the Lions in the NFC Championship, their NFL performance this year makes them one of the favorites to make next season’s Super Bowl according to the bookmakers.

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Michigan Sportsbooks Avoid Huge Losses

When the season was starting, the Detroit Lions were priced at +2500 to win the Super Bowl. By the time NFC Championship game had rolled around, those odds had changed to +750, with countless wagers made by faithful Lions fans throughout the season.

When it comes to the NFC Championship itself, the Detroit Lions were getting 61% of all outright winner bets at DraftKings Sportsbook and 71% at BetMGM Sportsbook, despite being a significant underdog going into the game at +270.

What’s even more, the majority of all bets made on the game in Michigan were in favor of the Lions, with 90% of moneyline bets at DraftKings and 95% at BetMGM supporting a Lions win.

As expected, the Lions were also the most wagered team to win the Super Bowl by Michiganders, which made the second-half upset by the 49ers an even greater victory for the sportsbooks in the state.

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Bookies Lose on the Spread Markets

While the Lions’ loss was a positive for the sportsbooks, Michigan-based bettors had something to be happy about when Detroit scored a last-minute touchdown to cut the 49ers’ advantage to 34-31.

This meant that Lions had covered the spread, and the bettors who made a bet on Lions plus the points took home a nice profit.

BetMGM Sportsbook reported having 70% of all spread market NFC Championship bets in favor of Lions plus the points, and these bets were all paid out. On top of that Michigan bettors were able to collect all the benefits of the BetMGM Rewards program related to the bets, further increasing the value of the wagers.

Lions a Favorite for the 2025 Super Bowl

With the NFL season now approaching its climax, the sportsbooks already have their sights on next year’s season and the 2025 Super Bowl.

Detroit Lions have had a great season, which has caused the bookmakers to look at them more favorably ahead of the new season.

The Lions are now priced between +1200 and +1700 to win the next Super Bowl, compared to the +2500 they were priced at ahead of the current season, demonstrating the increased faith in the Detroit outfit.

On the flip side, their NFC Championship rivals and this year’s Super Bowl finalists San Francisco 49ers remain the absolute favorites for next season as well, priced at +550 to win the next Super Bowl.

Looking at the upcoming Super Bowl on February 11 in Las Vegas, 49ers enter the game as slight -1 point favorites against the Chiefs, and there is plenty of time left to place your Big Game bets with the best Michigan sportsbooks in the days leading up to the big game.

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