Are the Lions even a playoff team next year?

Hi everyone, and welcome back to my weekly sports betting mailbag with MLive. The NFL Combine and NFL Draft are coming up soon and bettors are already rolling in futures bets for the 2024-25 season.

With a cursed history, many Michigan sports fans are worried the Lions missed their best shot at a Super Bowl.

Hey Ben,

I’m still not completely over Detroit’s loss to the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game.

Did we blow our best Super Bowl chance in 50 years? What do you think of our chances next year?

- Chris from Ann Arbor

As a Minnesota Vikings fan, Chris, I’ve become intimately familiar with horrible playoff losses over the years. The Lions’ defeat was certainly tough, but it can be very valuable if viewed as a learning experience.

Detroit’s core is very young on offense and will be together next season -- Jared Goff, Sam LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, etc. -- along with a great offensive line. The Lions were top five in the NFL in points per game.

The defense should improve as well, and it’s clear Detroit made the right selection in taking Aidan Hutchinson at No. 2 in the 2022 draft.

The Lions have the second-best odds (+550, BetMGM) to win the NFC and the second-most bets and total dollars wagered on them to win the Super Bowl in early betting. Bettors are definitely giving Detroit support -- they should be back in the playoffs and contention again next season, so don’t despair.

Sidelines Group provides MLive with original sports betting, lottery and casino content including odds, analysis, predictions and reviews to educate bettors. Please bet responsibly.

If you have a gambling problem and are located in Michigan, call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-270-7117 or you can visit the Michigan Gaming Control Board's website at https://www.michigan.gov/mgcb.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.