As usual, before diving into Week 13's best Detroit Lions bets, let's see how Week 12's best bets did.
RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Over 33.5 receiving yards (+135, DraftKings): 19 receiving yards
RB David Montgomery, Anytime touchdown (-145, FanDuel, -150, DraftKings): 1 touchdown
Lions, -7.5 points (-110, FanDuel; -108, DraftKings): Packers 29, Lions 22
A tough game for the Lions against the divisional rival Packers yielded a tough week on the best bets. But Week 13 against the 5-6 New Orleans Saints feels like a solid rebound spot. The Lions are 4.5-point favorites on the road via FanDuel Sportsbook), as the Saints deal with some key injuries (Cameron Jordan, Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, etc.).
The Lions have a key injury of their own, with linebacker Alex Anzalone out for Sunday's game with a hand injury.
Via the sportsbook noted, here are our three best Lions bets for Week 13.
Detroit Lions best bets for Week 13 at New Orleans Saints
WR Jameson Williams, Longest Reception Over 15.5 yards (-114, FanDuel)
The Saints had a generally good pass defense this season. But they will be without top cornerback Marshon Lattimore (ankle, IR) and safety Marcus Maye (shoulder) on Sunday, so it feels like they're extra vulnerable to downfield passing. And if they can't get after Jared Goff, which would be made harder if Jordan is out, the Lions' signal caller will have time to survey the field for chunk play opportunities.
Williams has had a catch of over 15 yards in three of the last four games (all over 20 yards, for that matter). Even if he gets more targets on Sunday, at least one catch for a big play feels like a solid bet.
RB David Montgomery, Over 14.5 Rush Attempts (+105, Draft Kings)
Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibb has shared the Lions' backfield work as originally envisioned over the last three games, and thus Montgomery has topped this over-under line for carries once in that span.
The Saints have struggled against the run over their last three games, allowing 156, 125 and 228 yards on the ground respectively. Linebacker Peter Werner, their second-leading tackler, is out Sunday due to shoulder and oblique issues. Defensive lineman Cameron Jordan missed practice all week with an ankle issue, so even if he plays his effectiveness stands to be compromised.
The Lions like to run the ball, and the Saints are struggling to stop the run. That lines up for Montgomery to see a solid amount of work. It will only take 15 carries for him to cash this bet, and it's plus-money on DraftKings.
QB Jared Goff, Under 34.5 pass attempts (-105, DraftKings; -122 FanDuel)
Goff has accounted for six turnovers over the last two games, three interceptions in Week 11 and three fumbles lost in Week 12. And if we're getting honest about, he has not played particularly well in basically four of the last five games.
There's a formula for Goff to perform at peak efficiency. A solid run game, and good pass protection. The latter was a massive failure in Week 12, and game scripts lately have pushed him to more pass attempts than would typically be ideal.
Under 1.5 passing touchdowns for Goff this week is an appealing bet, but I couldn't quite talk myself into it. So the under on 34.5 pass attempts it is.
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Note: Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.