Lions vs. Packers: NFL Predictions for Sunday Night Football on January 8, 2023

The Green Bay Packers will be in the playoffs if they earn a home win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday Night Football at 8:15PM ET on January 8, but Detroit also has a shot at making the postseason with a win. A game that not long ago was falling under the “playing out the schedule” catalog for Week 18 could be a win-and-in scenario for both teams based on a late-afternoon result. This turns into a win-and-in scenario for the Lions if the Seattle Seahawks defeat the Los Angeles Rams. Detroit is eliminated with a Seahawks victory and would be relegated to spoiler instead of playing for a trip the playoffs. Find out how we think this one will play out in our Lions vs. Packers betting preview. We're going to give you some in-depth analysis, as well as the NFL predictions from our predictive analytics model and world-class artificial intelligence. The Super Bowl is right around the corner, so we're pulling out all the stops. 

RELATED: Predictions for every Week 18 NFL matchup

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Lions vs. Packers Predictions

• Predicted score: Lions 23 - 27 Packers
• No edge on either team to cover the 4.5-point spread
• 65% chance the Packers win on the moneyline
• No edge Lions-Packers goes Over 49.5

For the best NFL computer picks, check out our Lions vs. Packers data predictions. They are constantly updating based on hundreds of different data points.

Lions vs. Packers Odds and Betting Lines

Will The Lions Cover The Spread?

The visitors will have to overcome not only likely frigid Wisconsin conditions in early January but also a defense that’s slipped to the bottom of the league in yards allowed at 398.7 per game.

The Lions have won four of their last five, but their defense was exposed by Carolina in a 37-23 loss two weeks ago. That score was closer than the game unfolded. The Panthers led 31-7 in the third quarter and rolled up 320 yards rushing.

Somehow, Detroit must keep the combination of Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon from going nuts.

PROPS: Player Props and Touchdown scorers for Lions vs. Packers

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Will The Packers Cover The Spread?

Both teams are playing better football than division-champion Minnesota at this stage.

The Packers waxed the Vikings last Sunday and are sharp on both sides of the ball, especially defensively with 20 points or fewer allowed in each of the last four games.

Green Bay held Detroit to 15 in the first meeting back in Week 9, but Aaron Rodgers had one of the worst performances of his life with three interceptions, matching a career high, and was only 23-of-42 passing. He hasn’t forgotten, that’s for sure.

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Why The Over Will Hit

You have to go all the way back to 2010 to find the last time these teams played such a low-scoring game as they did a few months ago.

The Packers rolled up 389 yards in the first meeting but shot themselves in the foot often, particularly in the red zone. Struggles near the goal line are unlikely to happen again given how well Green Bay is executing as of late, and also the Lions’ defensive issues.

RELATED: Betting The Over Is Sexy, But Betting The Under Is Smart