Bucs vs. Lions Odds, Prediction: Best Bets for Monday Night Football

There’s another Monday Night Football doubleheader on tap tonight starting with Bucs vs. Lions. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN/ABC.

Detroit (4-2 SU, 4-2 ATS) is a 6-point home favorite with a total of 52.5 at BetMGM. Tampa Bay (5-1 SU, 4-2 ATS) is playing well through a raft of key injuries. RB Bucky Irving and WR Chris Godwin have been ruled out tonight. WRs Mike Evans and Emeka Egbuka, both recovering from hamstring injuries, have questionable designations.

The favored Lions have attracted 81% of the betting handle and 62% of the tickets on the spread at BetMGM. Even with the injuries, the Bucs appear to be a live dog tonight.

Best MNF Bet on Total (OVER/UNDER)

OVER 52.5 (-110)

Baker Mayfield is among the betting favorites to win NFL MVP at BetMGM. As of this writing, Mayfield (+325) was the second choice behind only Patrick Mahomes (+160).

Mayfield threw for 256 yards, two TDs, and no picks in last week’s 30-19 win over the 49ers. He’s thrown for multiple touchdowns in five of six games this season without key targets in the lineup. In his time with Tampa Bay, Mayfield is 16-8 ATS as an underdog.

The cardiac Bucs have won four games by three points or less. The lone blemish on their record this year is a 31-25 loss to Philadelphia. Notably, Tampa Bay’s last four games have gone OVER the total.

Meanwhile, Detroit’s Jared Goff is 25-10-1 ATS as a favorite the past three seasons, hitting at a 71% clip. He entered NFL Week 7 as the league’s passing TD leader with 14 and a remarkable 75.9 percent completion rate (tops in the NFL).

Detroit WR Amon-Ra St. Brown entered this week with the most receiving TDs at six. He’s got 44 catches on a team-high 51 targets for 452 receiving yards. The Lions are loaded on offense with RBs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery forming the best 1-2 backfield punch in the NFL.

Detroit ranks second in the NFL with 31.8 points per game. Tampa Bay checks in at sixth with 27.5 ppg. Expect plenty of fireworks — and points — under the MNF lights tonight.

Best MNF Player Prop for Bucs

Baker Mayfield OVER 246.5 Passing Yards (-115)

Mayfield has eclipsed this number in his last three games:

• 17-of-23, 256 yards, and 2 TDs vs. 49ers
• 29-of-33, 379 yards, and 2 TDs vs. Seahawks
• 22-of-40, 289 yards, and 2 TDs vs. Eagles

If the Bucs are to hang with Detroit’s high-octane offense tonight, Mayfield’s arm will be a big part of that production. It’s worth noting that the Lions got sliced up by Patrick Mahomes in last week’s 30-17 loss to the Chiefs. Mahomes finished with 257 passing yards and three TDs.

Detroit’s secondary will be missing some key pieces, too. Safety Brian Branch (suspension), fellow safety Kerby Joseph (knee) and cornerback Terrion Arnold (shoulder) are all out tonight.

This is among the most bet player props at BetMGM, with the total increasing from 240.5 to 246.5 passing yards. Don’t wait to play the OVER if you’re interested. We’d play it up to 249.5.

Best MNF Player Prop for Lions

Sam Laporta OVER 4.5 Receptions (-115)

Sam Laporta has become a key cog in Detroit’s offense. He’s had five catches and a TD in each of his last two games against the Chiefs and Bengals, respectively.

Laporta averaged 73.5 receiving yards in those games, so we wouldn’t blame you for going OVER 48.5 (-115) tonight against the Bucs, either. In six games, Tampa Bay’s defense has allowed 33 catches, 280 yards and four TDs to opposing tight ends.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Laporta extend his TD streak to three straight games. BetMGM was offering +170 odds on Laporta as an anytime TD scorer as of this writing.