Detroit Lions at Kansas City Chiefs: Odds, Tips, Prop Bets and Predictions for the 2023 NFL Season Opener
The NFL season returns tonight as the defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs host the Detroit Lions on Thursday Night Football. Below we’ll bring you the latest odds, tips, prop bets and predictions as we preview the NFL’s hotly anticipated kick-off.
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs enter the new season off the back of a memorable 38-35 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII. The Lions enter the 2023 season with a ton of momentum and are the preseason favourites for the NFC North after going 8-2 in the final ten games of the 2022 season, narrowly missing out on the playoffs.
The Chiefs are favourites to retain the Super Bowl and Mahomes is also favourite to retain his title of NFL MVP. And whilst both will absolutely be in contention for those respective awards come the end of the season, they do enter this Week 1 matchup with the Lions with a couple of question marks. Star defensive lineman Chris Jones is currently holding out in the hopes of getting a new contract and will miss tonight’s game. Stud tight end Travis Kelce is questionable for tonight’s game with a knee injury, and even if he does play, will not be at 100%.
There are holes in this Chiefs team. The issue for the Lions is that Mahomes and Head Coach Andy Reid are good enough to overcome these, which is reflected in the betting lines for tonight.
Lions at Chiefs Betting Odds
Moneyline: Kansas City Chiefs 11/25 | Detroit Lions 37/20
Spread: Kansas City Chiefs -5, 10/11 | Detroit Lions +5, 9/10
Points Total: Over 53, 10/11 | Under 53, 22/25
Odds via Unibet.
There are two new tackles starting in front of Mahomes on the offensive line, whilst the receiving corps lacks a standout number-one target. Derrick Nnadi will have to step up in place of the absent Jones, whilst Trent McDuffie and the experienced Justin Reid will have to be reliable leaders in the secondary.
Jared Goff had an excellent second half of the season for the Lions, and Head Coach Dan Campbell deserves full credit for rallying his team to an 8-2 finish after a 1-6 start in 2022. Amon-Ra St. Brown is a legitimate number one receiver and there’s a lot of buzz around rookie first-round pick Jahmyr Gibbs at running back. But defence was the big question mark last year for the Lions and will continue to be heading into 2023. Aidan Hutchinson looks primed to build on an impressive rookie season, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson is a welcome addition to the secondary. But rookie linebacker Jack Campbell will have a lot of responsibility on his young shoulders to lead the defence and help patch up what was a porous run defence.
Lions at Chiefs Tips and Score Prediction
Our Double Tip: Chiefs -8.5, Under 54 Points – 27/10 with 10Bet
Player Prop Bet Bet Builder:
Kadarius Toney Anytime Touchdown
Jared Goff Under 258.5 Passing Yards
Patrick Mahomes Over 2.5 Passing Touchdowns
8/1 with Bet365
You can never underestimate this Chiefs team, even down two star players. Andy Reid has had an entire offseason to scheme plays to shifty receivers Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Richie James is a useful fourth option too. Isiah Pacheco can get the hard yards on the ground, whilst Jerick McKinnon is a pass-catching weapon coming out of the backfield. Though the defence is lacking stars beyond Chris Jones, they’ve often thrived with their backs against the wall and the secondary is not afraid to get physical. Mahomes is Mahomes, and one of the loudest stadiums in the country in Arrowhead will be host to a raucous crowd welcoming home their Super Bowl champions. Under Dan Campbell, the Lions have been a team that starts the season slow and builds momentum as it wears on. A night trip to Arrowhead this early will be too big of a task for Goff and the Lions.
Score Prediction: Chiefs 31 – Lions 17
