For Michigan Sports, It’s the Best of Times and Worst of Times

Article ByKyle Garlett

December 29, 2023

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Posted in: Michigan Gambling News, US Gambling News, US Sports Betting News

It is a good time to be a Detroit Lions fan. For the first time since 1993, they are an NFL division champion. Back then, the current NFC North didn’t exist. Detroit was NFC Central Division champions 30 years ago. Barry Sanders was the star, Rodney Peete and Erik Kramer were the quarterbacks, and they played in the Pontiac Silverdome.

Current quarterback Jared Goff wouldn’t be born for another 10 months. Current head coach Dan Campbell was a 17-year-old playing football at Glen Rose High School in Clinton, Texas.

It’s also been a very good time to be a Michigan online sports bettor. The Lions have been the favorites in 13 of their 15 games this season, and they have covered the spread in nine of those. Overall, they are 10-3 as the favorite, their best mark since they went 10-1 in 2014. The 13 games in which they have been favored to win is an all-time Lions high.

BetUS.com has Campbell as the second betting favorite to win Coach of the Year, paying +325, and the Lions are paying +750 to win the NFC. That ranks them fourth in the conference.

Michigan Ready for College Football Playoffs

For football betting on the college side of things, the Mitten State is bracing for the College Football Playoffs, which kick off on Monday, January 1. The Michigan Wolverines are in the Rose Bowl to face the Alabama Crimson Tide, and BetUS.com has Michigan as one-point favorites.

Michigan comes into the game an undefeated 13-0, and they covered the point spread in seven of their last nine games. This year, against the spread at a neutral site, the Wolverines are 1-0. Since Jim Harbaugh became the head coach in 2015, Michigan is 5-6 ATS when playing at a neutral site.

For Michigan fans that have traveled to Pasadena for Monday’s game and don’t have access to their home state’s sportsbooks, you can access these online sportsbooks in Southern California. Bovada.lv has Michigan at +200 to win the National Championship on January 8 at Houston’s NRG Stadium.

Detroit Pistons Historically Bad

As good as life is right now for football fans and bettors in Michigan, it has never been this bad for NBA fans and basketball bettors. Not just in Michigan, not anywhere. On Thursday night, the Detroit Pistons lost for the 28th straight time. That ties the record for most consecutive losses in NBA history, and if they lose to the Toronto Raptors on Saturday, they will hold the record alone.

Thursday’s loss was particularly cruel. Playing a very good Boston Celtics team, the Pistons led by as many as 21 points. But over the third and fourth quarters, the lead was choked away, and Detroit eventually lost in overtime.

It was the second straight game in which the Pistons covered the point spread. But for the season, along with their 2-29 record, they are just 11-20 against the spread.

BetUS.com is taking bets on if the Pistons losing streak will reach 50 games, and paying +1600 if it does.

Since 2020, the Pistons have made four draft picks inside the top-10, including the No. 1 overall pick in 2021, which was used on Cade Cunningham of Oklahoma State. Not one of those four players has been an all-star, and the last time the Pistons had an all-star selection was Blake Griffin in 2019.

The Pistons current pace would have them finishing the season 5-77, which would be the worst full season in NBA history.