Monday Night Football returns in Week 7 with two NFC contenders taking the field in what should be a high-scoring battle when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers take on the Detroit Lions. This game is filled with excellent betting potential—from spreads and totals to player props.
The Lions are coming off a tough loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Buccaneers have won four of their last five games. Both these teams are at the top of the standings in the NFC. With everything on the line, this is one of the juiciest Monday Night Football bets of the season.
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Best Bets for Lions vs. Buccaneers
Detroit comes in as the favorite, but Tampa Bay has exceeded expectations this year. Four of Tampa Bay’s five wins have come on a last-minute drive. The Lions started the season poorly, and then ripped off four wins in a row before another poor outing. The Lions have excellent play sandwiched in between these losses. Now they look to bounce back once again.
This guide breaks down the NFL betting picks that hold the most value for Monday Night Football, including odds, picks, and player props. Let’s start with the spread.
Monday Night Odds (Lions -5.5)
The Lions opened as 5.5-point favorites at home, an indication of how oddsmakers view the Lions as slightly better than the Buccaneers. If we give the Lions three points for home-field advantage, it means the oddsmakers believe the Lions are 2.5 points better than the Buccaneers. This makes sense if you consider the Buccaneers’ current injury situation, in which they are missing multiple key players, including Chris Godwin, Bucky Irving, and Emeka Egbuka
Explore the NFL odds board to find other top games to bet on this week.
Monday Night Picks (Lions -5.5)
The Detroit Lions have a point differential of +55 points at home this season in just four games. That means their average margin of victory at home is 13.75 points. This makes sense as the Lions are built to take advantage of the speedy turf with their timing offense. The Lions have multiple big-play players who are explosive at home, such as Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Jameson Williams. With the home crowd behind them, we like the Lions to cover the 5.5-point spread.
The Buccaneers are 5-1, but they have done so against weaker competition. When they faced the cream of the crop, the Philadelphia Eagles, they fell short 31-25.
You can view our full Buccaneers vs. Lions prediction or shop more NFL picks for today’s slate.
Lions’ Jahmyr Gibbs (Over 60.5 Rushing Yards)
Jahmyr Gibbs is the engine of the Detroit Lions’ offense. Although the Lions have plenty of exciting pass plays, they prefer to run the ball, especially in the red zone. What used to be a backfield by committee has become the sole domain of Jahmyr Gibbs.
Gibbs has gone over this number in four of his last five games, including 65 yards in the Lions’ most recent loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Gibbs is averaging 65 yards per game this season.
The Lions will want to keep the Buccaneers’ explosive offense off the field, and they will do that by running the ball early and often. Gibbs should get plenty of attempts and will take advantage of the opportunity. We like the Over 60.5 rushing yards prop for Gibbs.
Check out all of our player props for Buccaneers vs. Lions. For more markets across the league, explore the NFL player props board.
Your Game Plan for Monday Night Football Bets
Monday night gives us a high-profile NFC matchup, and we’ve broken down our top Monday Night Football bets. Here are our final recommendations:
- Take Lions -5.5 to cover.
- Trust Jahmyr Gibbs to cover over 60.5 rushing yards.
- Monitor injury reports for late value on Buccaneers receivers, particularly if Mike Evans is ruled out
Of all Week 7 matchups, Buccaneers vs. Lions offers one of the clearest edges on paper. But as always, timing is everything when placing bets.
Capitalize on Monday’s best values by opening a sportsbook account and wagering today
Shop the Best Odds at Top Offshore Sportsbooks
Before locking in your Monday Night Football bets, make sure you’re getting the best possible price. Shopping lines across multiple sportsbooks is one of the smartest strategies for long-term success, and offshore sportsbooks continue to offer some of the most competitive NFL odds in the market.
Whether you’re backing the Lions to cover, targeting Jahmyr Gibbs’ rushing yard prop, or betting another angle, use a trusted offshore sportsbook like Bovada to find the best value.
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
