2024 NFC Championship odds, expert predictions, viewing information, live stream for Lions vs. 49ers: Expert picks, top bets, and additional details.

January 28, 2024

2024 NFC Championship odds, expert predictions, viewing information, live stream for Lions vs. 49ers: Expert picks, top bets, and additional details.

The NFC Championship has narrowed down to two teams, the Detroit Lions and the San Francisco 49ers, set to compete at Levi's Stadium on Championship Sunday. The victor will secure a spot in Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, scheduled for February 11 on CBS, Nickelodeon, and Paramount+. This marks Detroit's second appearance in the championship game, with the previous one dating back to 1991. Meanwhile, the 49ers have been a frequent participant in this game, making their 19th appearance since 1970, aiming to advance to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2019.

In our weekly roundup, we've compiled expert picks and gambling insights from CBSSports.com and SportsLine. This includes predictions against the spread by CBS Sports experts, additional feature content for the game, insights from top SportsLine experts and the SportsLine Projection Model, best bets from our staff, survivor picks, and more. You can find all the information you need to make informed picks for the NFC Championship.

All NFL odds are sourced from SportsLine consensus odds.

For confident picks in the NFC Championship and to predict which Super Bowl contender might face a tough challenge, visit SportsLine. Their advanced model simulates every NFL game 10,000 times and has shown consistent success, yielding well over $7,000 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception.

Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers

Time: Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ET (Fox), stream on fubo (try for free)

Opening Odds: 49ers -7, Over/Under 51.5

R.J. White's pick

R.J. White SportsLine's leading NFL expert this season with a documented record of 97-76-4 on all NFL picks, has been particularly successful in games involving the Lions, boasting a 61-43-2 record (+1285) on his last 106 picks concerning Detroit. For this game, he leans toward the Over in total points but has also uncovered a significant factor influencing his pick against the spread. To access his detailed pick, visit SportsLine.

John Breech acknowledges the challenge of laying a full touchdown in a crucial game but expresses confidence in the 49ers. His main consideration is the weather, but with a favorable forecast, he anticipates the 49ers exploiting the Lions' secondary, which struggled against top quarterbacks in the playoffs. Defensively, the 49ers' ability to apply pressure without blitzing and their past ATS performance in playoff home games contribute to Breech favoring the 49ers -7 over the Lions. For Breech's pick for the AFC Championship.

In contemplating the Lions vs. 49ers matchup, Tyler Sullivan emphasizes the significance of quarterback performance and mistakes. He notes the Lions' success when Jared Goff avoids interceptions and the 49ers' undefeated record when Brock Purdy doesn't throw any interceptions. Sullivan acknowledges the uncertainty surrounding Deebo Samuel's availability and points out the Lions' historic playoff achievements. He envisions the game going either way, with the 49ers dominating or the Lions clinching a close victory, considering the team's sense of destiny.

Pete Prisco's pick

The Lions face a formidable challenge against the NFC's top team, the 49ers, but they possess an offense capable of keeping pace. To beat the 49ers, the Lions need to block effectively upfront, exploit the secondary's weaknesses, and avoid third-and-long situations by utilizing early-down passing, a strategy favored by coordinator Ben Johnson. Despite defensive issues, particularly at cornerback, the Lions are expected to follow the Packers' approach from the previous week. While Brock Purdy's recent performance may not have been outstanding, there's recognition of his potential to excel and exploit the Lions' secondary. With Christian McCaffrey's dual-threat abilities, the Lions must focus on containing him, creating opportunities for Purdy in the passing game, where Brandon Aiyuk is predicted to shine. Pete Prisco anticipates a high-scoring game, with Jared Goff performing well for the Lions. However, he ultimately foresees the 49ers emerging victorious, acknowledging that it won't be an easy task.

SportsLine expert's pick

SportsLine's senior analyst Larry Hartstein has been consistently successful with NFL bets, boasting a 74-46-2 record since the beginning of last season and an impressive 19-7 record in the last nine weeks. For Championship Sunday, Hartstein has identified three top bets, one of which is the under on Lions running back David Montgomery's rushing yards total of 45.5 (-125) against San Francisco. For his additional two best bets for the weekend, you can refer to his analysis.

Tyler Sullivan's pick

"... I am confident in Kyle Shanahan's ability to exploit the weaknesses of the Lions secondary, which has already allowed Matthew Stafford to throw for 367 yards and Baker Mayfield for 349 yards in the playoffs. Purdy achieved an NFL-record 9.6 yards per attempt this season, while the Lions ranked 31st in that category. Even if the Niners are without Deebo Samuel (shoulder) for this game, the presence of Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle should be sufficient to exploit their vulnerabilities.

"Defensively, the 49ers apply pressure without blitzing 34.5% of the time, ranking 10th best in the league. When faced with pressure this season, Jared Goff completed just 53% of his passes with a 4.9 yards-per-attempt average.

"In their last six playoff home games, the 49ers have a 5-1 ATS record, with their only ATS loss occurring last week against Green Bay. Following an ATS loss in his career, Purdy holds a 6-2 ATS record."

Jordan Dajani's pick

I have been perceived as a critic of the Lions due to my ongoing column that evaluated contenders and pretenders throughout the regular season. Despite recognizing the Lions as a top-10 team in the NFL, I questioned their status as true contenders. While I acknowledge the strength of their offense, the defensive aspect has been a concern for me. Analyzing specific games, such as their loss to the Ravens and wins against the Chargers, raised doubts about their standing compared to teams like Baltimore or San Francisco. Now, the Lions have an opportunity to prove themselves.

Having enjoyed home-field advantage in the first two playoff rounds, the Lions secured impressive victories over the Los Angeles Rams and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the latter of which was somewhat anticipated. However, they now face an outdoor road game for the first time since December 10. Although the weather is not expected to be as challenging as in California last week, playing outside in slightly cooler conditions poses a different challenge. Notably, the Lions have not won a playoff game on the road since 1957.

Turning to the 49ers, the availability of Deebo Samuel, who has no game designation with his shoulder injury, is crucial. The 49ers have an impressive record of 14-1 when Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, and Samuel all play the entire game. While the 49ers did not showcase a polished performance on both sides of the ball against the Packers last week, I anticipate an improvement this week. My prediction for the 49ers winning this game is based on Purdy's passing attack relying on timing routes and anticipation. Exploiting the vulnerabilities of the Lions secondary, coupled with the playmaking abilities of San Francisco, adds to their advantage. Whether focusing on George Kittle's dominance at the second level or utilizing Brandon Aiyuk against Cam Sutton, the 49ers have various offensive options, not to mention the versatility of McCaffrey.

For added security, I would recommend considering buying a full point, although it may come at a cost. Regardless, I foresee the 49ers emerging victorious in this matchup, with Kyle Shanahan boasting a perfect 5-0 record at home in the playoffs.

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