Lions vs Saints Picks, Odds, Predictions, and Player Props for Week 1
Betting

Lions vs Saints Picks, Odds, Predictions, and Player Props for Week 1

We've got all the betting info you need for the Lions vs. Saints Week 1 matchup, including odds, picks, predictions, and a player prop bet.

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The Lions open their season at home against a Saints team that was trendy for much of the offseason before injury news changed the conversation a bit. Detroit remains loaded with high-end skill talent, but New Orleans has enough offensive upside to make this spread—and the near-50-point total—more interesting than it first appears.

New Orleans Saints vs. Detroit Lions Betting Odds for Week 1

Spread: Lions -6.5 (-122, FanDuel)
Moneyline: Lions -340; Saints +275
Game Total: Over 49.5 (-115), Under 49.5 (-105)

Detroit is a 6.5-point home favorite, and it’s not difficult to see why. The Lions have been consistently good, even in the post-Ben Johnson era, and they remain one of the more talented offenses in football.

Amon-Ra St. Brown is an elite target earner. Jahmyr Gibbs is a legitimate game-breaker. Jameson Williams can turn a modest target share into a massive fantasy and real-life performance. Sam LaPorta gives Jared Goff another high-level weapon in the middle of the field. Detroit has an embarrassment of riches on the offensive side of things.

The 49.5 total is also telling. Oddsmakers expect points, which makes sense with Detroit’s offensive ceiling and a Saints team that should be more aggressive under Kellen Moore in year two.

New Orleans has taken some tough blows, however. Rookie receiver Jordyn Tyson has not been able to get on the field just months after the draft, and Alvin Kamara will miss time. Kamara would have been a perfect complement to Travis Etienne in the backfield, so there are legitimate questions about how quickly this offense can find its footing.

Prediction & Pick for Saints vs. Lions Week 1 Matchup

The Pick: Saints +6.5 (+100, FanDuel)

Detroit is at home, has the better-established quarterback, and is loaded with players who can flip a game with one touch. But I love getting New Orleans at +6.5 for even money.

This is a lot of points for a team that still has some intriguing offensive pieces. Tyler Shough had a full offseason in Moore’s offense, and while there will be growing pains, the Saints should be willing to push the tempo and create opportunities through the passing game.

The Lions are talented, but I am not entirely sold on their defense.

The total also supports that idea. A 49.5-point number is not a sign that bookmakers expect Detroit to run away and hide in a 27-10 game. New Orleans should be able to contribute enough offense to keep pace.

Best Player Prop Bet for Saints vs. Lions

Juwan Johnson Anytime Touchdown (+250, FanDuel)

Juwan Johnson at +250 to score is my favorite player prop in this game.

Johnson was Kellen Moore’s go-to option near the goal line last season. He led the Saints in snaps inside both the five- and 10-yard lines, which means he was on the field at the right times to maximize his chances of catching a touchdown.

And now the path is even clearer.

Taysom Hill is no longer in the mix. Kamara is out. Tyson remains sidelined. Those absences remove several potential red-zone options and could create a larger role for Johnson as a big-bodied target in condensed areas of the field.

Detroit’s offense should force New Orleans to be aggressive. If this game becomes the shootout the total implies, Shough will need reliable options around the goal line. Johnson has already proven he can fill that role.

At +250, you are getting an excellent number on a player who should see meaningful snaps. I will take that value all day.

Players Mentioned in this Article

  1. Juwan Johnson
    JuwanJohnson
    TENONO
    PPG
    8.3
    Proj
    8.2

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