Lions vs. 49ers: NFC Championship 2024 Odds and Over-Under Predictions
The Detroit Lions are playing in their first NFC Championship since 1992.
Their opponent, the top-seeded San Francisco 49ers, have reached the NFL's final playoff round before the Super Bowl for the third consecutive season and the seventh time since 2012.
That won't matter once the opening kick gets booted, though, as these two teams—which both won 12 games during the regular season—have no doubt they belong in this spot. Only one can advance, though, and oddsmakers have a hunch about which club that will be.
We'll lay out all of the scheduling specifics and betting lines to know before previewing and predicting this upcoming matchup.
Game Info and Odds
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Date: Sunday, January 28
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
TV and Live Stream: Fox, Fox Sports
Spread: 49ers -7
Over/Under: 51
Odds via DraftKings.
Preview and Prediction
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On paper, the 49ers should win this game—perhaps comfortably.
They have better balance on both sides of the football. They boast more star power on their roster. They have more playoff experience and home-field advantage to boot.
The Lions, though, are capable of giving them fits.
San Francisco's normally stone-wall defense hasn't exactly been impenetrable of late. After holding five consecutive opponents to fewer than 20 points between Weeks 10 and 14, the Niners have given up 21-plus points in four of their last five outings.
Detroit's offense can attack this group at every level, too. Jared Goff is an efficient passer with game-breaking talents at receiver (Amon-Ra St. Brown) and tight end (Sam LaPorta). The Lions also boast one of the league's best two-man tandems in the backfield with the bruising David Montgomery and the explosive Jahmyr Gibbs.
Detroit's defense has also been stingy against the run, ranking top three in both yards per carry (3.7, third) and yards per contest (88.8, second). The Lions can reasonably hope to contain Christian McCaffrey, as much as any defense can, at least.
The Lions have been vulnerable against the pass, though, and that could be an issue regardless of whether Deebo Samuel's shoulder keeps him off the field or not. Even without Samuel, the 49ers have a precise passer in Brock Purdy and plenty of pass-catching playmakers around him, including McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle and Jauan Jennings.
Detroit also needs to keep a clean pocket for Goff, who's been a little shaky under pressure. He's been sacked five times in his two playoff games so far, and that number could absolutely increase against a defense with Nick Bosa, Chase Young, Javon Hargrave and Arik Armstead across the front.
There are potential paths the Lions can follow to victory, but it's hard to see any of them coming to fruition. Detroit is a really good team, but San Francisco is a great one. Look for a back-and-forth affair for much of the contest, with the Niners pulling away late in front of their home fans.
Prediction: 49ers 31, Lions 21
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