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The Detroit Lions’ faithful are well aware of the unfortunate statistics that have plagued their team throughout their history. They have only managed to secure a single playoff victory since 1957, and have been unable to clinch any division titles since 1993. Adding insult to injury, the infamous 0-16 season in 2008, orchestrated by Matt Millen, remains a haunting memory for Lions fans.
Can you imagine the experience of being a fan of the Honolulu Blue and Silver in those games? Now picture if you had placed bets on them.
Sports fans in Michigan can now rejoice as online sports betting was finally regulated and made available in January.
This Sunday, it is highly likely that numerous individuals from Michigan will be placing their inaugural legal sports wager on the Lions, either in support or against them, as they kick off the season against the San Francisco 49ers. If you happen to be one of those individuals, we recommend exploring our beginner sports betting tips in Michigan, which include examples from this year’s games.
Football betting has fortunately not become as mainstream as it is today, which is a blessing considering the decades of misery experienced by long-time fans and the recent two decades of disappointment for new fans.
As it happens, placing bets on the Lions wouldn’t have been as terrible as witnessing their performance. Nevertheless, it would still have been quite unpleasant.
Only Cleveland Browns are worse than Detroit Lions since Matt Millen’s hiring
Let’s update our numbers to a more contemporary era, considering that the target audience for sports betting is generally younger than baby boomers who are familiar with names like Bobby Layne.
Furthermore, during the 1990s, being a Lions fan was an enjoyable experience due to the presence of Barry Sanders. However, following Sanders’ sudden retirement in 1999, a distinct and bleak era emerged for the Lions as the new century approached.
In 2000, Paul Edinger, a Michigan State alum, crushed the Lions’ playoff aspirations and spoiled Christmas Eve with a devastating kick. This event prompted Lions owner William Clay Ford to make a significant move by appointing Millen, who was previously engaged in TV broadcasting, to revolutionize the direction of the franchise.
It is no secret that since Millen assumed leadership of the Lions in 2001, the team’s performance has been disappointing, with a record of 110-209-1. This record is only slightly better than that of the Cleveland Browns, who are widely recognized as one of the worst football teams of this era and also have a 0-16 season to their name.
Since Millen was hired in 2001, let’s take a glimpse at the NFL’s most unsuccessful teams.
NFL’s Worst Straight-Up Records Since 2001
| Wins | Losses | Ties | Winning percentage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32. Cleveland Browns | 107 | 212 | 1 | .336 |
| 31. Detroit Lions | 110 | 209 | 1 | .345 |
| 29. Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders | 121 | 199 | 0 | .378 |
| 29. Jacksonville Jaguars | 121 | 199 | 0 | .378 |
| 28. Washington Football Team | 131 | 188 | 1 | .411 |
Without intending to worsen the situation, it is worth mentioning that during that period, Detroit had a record of 110-209-1 overall. In contrast, the New England Patriots boasted an impressive record of 239-81, with a playoff record of 30-11. It is noteworthy that Detroit, unfortunately, holds a record of 0-3 in this regard.
However, how does it fare in comparison to the number?
Detroit Lions Odds: Week 1 vs. San Francisco 49ers
In betting terms, Detroit Lions pass just 3 NFL franchises since 2001
Millen’s tenure with the Lions may have inadvertently contributed to some betting victories for Lions bettors. Throughout this era, the Lions’ consistently low expectations have often resulted in them surpassing the spread (ATS) even in defeat, providing opportunities for bettors to win.
For those who are new to sports betting, the spread refers to the predetermined value assigned by an oddsmaker to an event, taking into account the perceived differences in skill levels between two teams. If you’re interested in learning more about placing spread bets and other football betting options in Michigan, read on.
According to a data analysis from Playinmichigan, when it comes to records against the spread since 2001, Detroit ranks just above Cleveland as the worst team. However, there are two additional teams that also have worse records against the spread than Detroit. This analysis was conducted by compiling information from TeamRankings, Maddux Sports, and Sports Odds History.
Since 2001, the Raiders (140-174-6) franchise holds the most unfavorable record against the spread. Interestingly, this fact carries a touch of irony as they currently reside in the global hub for sports betting.
Following them is the Rams franchise, now led by quarterback Matthew Stafford, with a less than impressive 143-169-8 ATS record. Although both of these franchises have relocated to different states, they can take solace in the fact that they made it to the first two Super Bowls of the Millen era, despite ultimately coming up short in both games.
Hmmmm …
The Cleveland team ranks as the second-lowest in the league with a record of 143-167-10 against the spread.
With a record of 144-167-9 ATS since 2001, the Detroit Lions are currently tied with the Tennessee Titans (145-168-7) for the 29th position in the league in terms of percentage points.
These NFL teams have performed the poorest against the spread since 2001:
NFL’s worst records against the spread since 2001
| Wins | Losses | Pushes | Winning percentage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32. Las Vegas/Oakland Raiders | 140 | 174 | 6 | .447 |
| 31. St. Louis/LA Rams | 143 | 169 | 8 | .459 |
| 30. Cleveland Browns | 143 | 167 | 10 | .463 |
| 28. Tennessee Titans | 145 | 168 | 7 | .464 |
| 28. Detroit Lions | 144 | 167 | 9 | .464 |
Unlike Cleveland, Detroit often exceeded low odds bar in 0-16 season
Taking a closer look at the franchise’s lowest point highlights how much the Millen era lowered the bar.
In the 2008 campaign, the Lions made history as the first team to lose all 16 games in a season, failing to secure a single victory. Years later, the Browns replicated this unfortunate “feat” during the 2017 season when they also went 0-16.
In all fairness, Millen cannot be held solely responsible for the entirety of the mess since he was brought on board in 2001. Even the 2008 debacle cannot be entirely attributed to him, as he was actually terminated after only a few games into that season.
It is intriguing to compare the 0-16 campaigns, particularly in terms of Cleveland’s performance. During their disastrous year, the Browns had a 4-12 record against the spread. They consistently played below the expectations set by oddsmakers.
Despite the circumstances, the Lions had a fairly respectable record of 6-9-1 against the spread in 2008. I can’t recall any of those games being close, except for the one where Dan Orlovsky accidentally danced out of the back of the end zone at Minnesota.
However, the Millen era had conditioned oddsmakers to have such low expectations for the Lions that even an 0-16 team managed to exceed the spread almost 50% of the time. This is quite an achievement for Millen to take pride in.
Congratulations to him! I’m certain he is eagerly anticipating the arrival of the greeting cards.
Lions have covered a playoff game in recent years; will they ever win one?
In summary, despite occasionally surpassing low expectations, it is still not wise to bet on the Lions in the current century.
If we examine the record against the spread since 2001, which stands at 144-167-9, it reveals that a person who consistently bet on Detroit in all those games would be at a loss of 23 units. Contrary to expectations, betting against the Lions, or fading them, wouldn’t have been as lucrative either.
If you take into account the three playoff games and wager on the Lions to cover, you will find yourself at a loss of 24 units. In both the Seattle (2016) and New Orleans (2011) games, Detroit failed to cover and lost as the away team. However, they did manage to cover the 6.5-point spread in their game against Dallas, although they ultimately lost 24-20 in the first round of the 2014 NFL Playoffs, which took place in January 2015.
Oh, look! A playoff cover! Perhaps this is a good beginning.
As is customary at the beginning of each Lions season, there remains a glimmer of hope for a turnaround. The positive developments surrounding the Detroit Pistons and Tigers, along with the renewed optimism surrounding the Red Wings, suggest that the Lions may also follow suit and begin to progress in a positive direction.
We simply wouldn’t place a bet on it.
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