‘Monday Night Football’ Betting Preview: Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers

Thanks to the Minnesota Vikings win on Sunday, the game on Monday night between the Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers is relatively meaningless. Win or lose in Santa Clara, and the Lions season still boils down to a Week 18 matchup at home against the Vikings. That game will decide the winner of the NFC North, and that winner will get the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

Of course, you may also remember the game in Santa Clara 11 months ago between the Lions and 49ers to decide the NFC Championship. The Lions were the sentimental favorite, trying to get to the first Super Bowl in team history. The 49ers were trying to get to their eighth Super Bowl, tied for most in the NFC.

This game may not mean anything in the current standings, but you can be sure that Lions head coach Dan Campbell has revenge on his mind.

Game Line: Lions (-3.5)

The Lions are bruised and battered and suffering from more injuries than any other Super Bowl contender. They could choose to rest their players for this game and ensure they go into the meaningful Week 18 as healthy as possible. That is clearly not in Dan Campbell’s plan.

“I’ll make this easy for everybody. That way, all the critics can jump out and start attacking. But that way, you don’t have to debate them anymore. We’re bringing everything we got to this game and we are playing. I don’t care what it looks like and where it’s at and who’s this, who’s that. We’re going out to play and win this game, out on the West Coast. So there you go.”

And there you go. Campbell is who he is, all the way to the end.

Quarterback Proposition Bets

Jared Goff has had a terrific season for the Lions, and his over/under on passing yards in this game is 253.5. In each of his last three games, he has gone well over that total, with 283, 494, and 336 passing yards. Goff also has 11 touchdowns in those three games to just a single interception.

Will they or won’t they sign Brock Purdy to a long-term contract extension? That is the decision the 49ers are faced with, as Purdy tries to make the most of an offense missing many of its best weapons. His over/under on passing yards is 254.5, a total he’s been on both sides of in recent weeks. Purdy’s last six games have been a roller coaster, with totals of 353 yards, 159, 94, 325, 142, and 313 last week against the Dolphins.

Running Back Proposition Bets

David Montgomery is one of the many injured for the Lions, so on the ground it has become the Jahmyr Gibbs show. His over/under on rushing yards is 95.5, and rushing plus receiving yards is 128.5. Last week at Chicago, Gibbs rushed for 109 yards and had 154 total yards, and the week before, he had 114 total yards.

Gibbs is a huge favorite to score, paying -235 for an anytime touchdown and +380 for the first touchdown.

The featured back for the 49ers will once again be Isaac Guerendo, and he has filled in admirably for the list of injured running backs ahead of him. His rushing yards over/under is 63.5, a total he has gone over in three of the four games in which he had at least 10 carries.

Guerendo is -120 to score a touchdown and +650 to score the game’s first touchdown.

Pass Catcher Proposition Bets

Amon-Ra St. Brown hasn’t been quite as consistent as he was in 2023, but he is still one of the best wide receivers in football, and he is the best wide receiver in this game. His over/under on receiving yards is 72.5, a total he’s gone over six times in the 2024 regular season.

Last week, he narrowly missed that total with 70 yards. The week before that, he had a season-high 193 yards.

Also available for the Lions is Jameson Williams at 51.5, Tim Patrick at 27.5, and tight end Sam LaPorta at 44.5. As touchdown scorers, St. Brown pays +100, Williams is +160, and LaPorta is +170.

The 49ers have enjoyed a breakout season for Jauan Jennings this season, and he leads their wide receivers with an over/under of 64.5 receiving yards. Five times this season, Jennings has gone over 64 yards receiving, and he has a career-high six touchdowns. In three previous seasons, he had just one.

Tight end George Kittle remains the most dangerous 49ers pass catcher, and his over/under on receiving yards is 68.5. As a touchdown scorer, Kittle pays +130, while Jennings pays +190. Deebo Samuel is +175 to score a touchdown, and his over/under on receiving yards is 47.5.