NFL 2023 Kickoff – Lions vs Chiefs Betting Odds & Prediction
The start of the 2023 NFL season promises fireworks when the exciting Detroit Lions challenge the Super Bowl Champs, Kansas City Chiefs.
The game will kick off on Thursday, September 7, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. You can watch it on NBC at 8:20 PM ET.
Below is the game’s breakdown, including our latest Lions vs. Chiefs betting odds and picks.
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Detroit Lions vs. Kansas City Chiefs Odds
| Detroit Lions | Vs. | Kansas City Chiefs |
|---|---|---|
| +230 | Moneyline | -280 |
| +6.5 (-105) | Spread | -6.5 (-115) |
| O 54 (-110) | Total | U 54 (-110) |
| Bet On Lions vs Chiefs At BetUS | ||
The Chiefs opened as a touchdown favorite, but the line settled at 6.5 quickly and has stayed at that number for several months.
It’s hard to anticipate the line’s movement, even as more bets come in as the game’s date approaches.
The game total opened at 54.5 and is now at 54 points with a standard price of -110 on both the Over and Under.
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2023 NFL Kickoff Betting Preview
Detroit Lions Analysis
The Lions have been one of the most talked about teams prior to the start of the season. Detroit is the odds-on favorite to win the NFC North, listed at +135.
It’s the first time since 1991 that the oddsmakers favor the Lions to win the division. Back then, the now NFC North was the NFC Central.
The hype train surrounding the Lions comes because of the way they closed out the season in 2022. Detroit won eight of the ten games of the regular season and barely missed the chance to make the playoffs.
The last time we saw them was on National TV as they beat the Packers 20-16 in the last game of Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay.
The Lions’ offense was a sight in 2022, and most people believe they will continue to grow this season. Last year, they had the 3rd best total attack, averaging 380.0 yards per game and 26.6 points each week.
Even their QB Jared Goff took a massive step forward, throwing over 4,400 yards, alongside 29 touchdowns and just seven interceptions.
The low number of interceptions thrown was massive for Goff’s confidence. He threw just one pick in the last 11 games of the season.
The Lions’ defense also took an incredible jump in the second half of the season. They started allowing 32.1 points and 421.3 total yards per game in the first eight games of the year.
After moving some coaching pieces around, they lowered those numbers to 20.2 points and 369.6 yards per game in the last ten games.
Nobody expects the Lions to shut down Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs by any means. But if their defense keeps the identity of the last ten weeks, they might have a chance to cover.
Kansas City Chiefs Analysis
Once again, the Chiefs are the team to beat at the start of the season. Last year, they won the Super Bowl despite many believing it was the year of the Buffalo Bills.
Kansas City is the odds-on favorite to win the Super Bowl at 6/1. In comparison, the Lions are 22/1. Those odds surprise no one, by the way.
The Chiefs didn’t lose any significant players that you might think can cause the franchise to wobble. However, the absence of the DT Chris Jones should be a bigger story.
Jones was a beast and the leader of the defense in 2022. He is currently in a dispute with the franchise over a new contract and has missed the entire training camp.
While the Chiefs are still a great team, their defense is a totally different unit without Chris Jones. To make it worse, they lost DE Frank Clark in free agency, which means their two biggest pass rushers from last season won’t be available to face the Lions.
With that said, I wouldn’t worry about the offense. Patrick Mahomes is the best quarterback in the NFL, and last season was one of his best years. He still has TE Travis Kelce, but he showed in 2022 that he can make any name a viable option in the passing game.
The Chiefs have scored 30+ points in seven straight season-opener games, and I expect that trend to continue.
Detroit Lions vs. Kansas City Chiefs Betting Prediction
Even if the hype is a little much for my taste, I think it’s a good idea to start thinking about the Lions as a new type of team.
They were the subject of numerous jokes for years, but those times have faded as coach Dan Campbell has instilled order.
I said this so you have the mindset that the Lions can go into Kansas City and keep this game close.
I have no concern about the Chiefs scoring in this game. They will likely find the end zone several times, but I expect the Lions and their fun offense to do the same.
Most people don’t remember that in 2018, Jared Goff beat Patrick Mahomes in a Monday Night game that saw both players score 105 points combined. Goff had 413 yards and four touchdowns that night.
So even if his reputation is not the same as Mahomes, he’s completely capable of keeping up the pace.
The absence of Chris Jones is my biggest red flag in this game. It’s an under-reported story. You can make the case Jones was the second-best player for the Chiefs last season. Thinking his absence won’t have an impact is ludicrous.
I’m taking the Lions to cover +6.5 with a -105 price. I still think the Chiefs will win, but Detroit will have time to develop as many creative plays as they want without Chris Jones. They will keep this game entertaining, with scores back and forth.
The total seems high for an opening game. If I had to take a side, I would probably go with Over 54 points, but I’d rather stay away and just grab the points with the Lions.
2023 NFL Kickoff Betting Picks
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About the Author
Joseph Falchetti
Editor-in-Chief, Pro Sports Bettor and Casino Expert
Joe is the author of the majority of sports betting pages on SBS and he serves as a gambling consultant to our content team. He's been mentioned on Forbes.com as a gaming analyst, and his articles have been linked by larger publications, such as the New York Times.
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