Should We Believe the Detroit Lions Hype?

Every year, Detroit Lions fans have hope that maybe, somehow, the team will have a good season. But, this year, they actually are joined by tons of other NFL fans in thinking that it's going to be a special year for the Detroit Lions. Now, even ESPN says, in a way, to believe the Detroit Lions hype. They also say, in a way, to not believe it.

I grew up a Detroit Lions fan and can remember so many Thanksgivings watching the annual Thanksgiving Day game with family. Of course, the Lions rarely won. It became a tradition, of sorts, to cheery them on but watch them lose on Turkey Day. But, I really think this year is going to be the year for the Lions. Both this year and next year, I believe, are going to see the Lions in the playoffs.

ESPN writer Kevin Pulsifer writes that he loves the emotion of the Detroit Lions hype. "Ever since Dan Campbell first professed a propensity for biting kneecaps, Motown Mania has been in full effect," he writes in a new ESPN story. "The love affair reached a fever pitch last August when the team was featured on Hard Knocks and Jamaal Williams convinced us to run through a brick wall." Other outlets have noted the Lions buzz, too.

However, he doesn't say that he believes all the hype will translate into bets on the Lions that will come through. He even says that the Lions' division odds "still aren't a good betting value." But, in positive news, he does note that ESPN Analytics has the Lions as the 11th-best team according to FPI. He also says that ESPN Analytics gives Detroit a 65.4% probability of making the playoffs in an NFC, largely because the NFC "doesn't have seven good teams." It definitely helps us that the NFC North doesn't have great teams. Not to bash Green Bay, Chicago and Minnesota, but our only real challenge is beating Minnesota.