As October ushers in crisp air and spooky vibes, there’s no better time to carve out some winning bets on the Detroit Lions, especially for their matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. Forget stocks, house flipping, or the daily grind—betting on NFL football, particularly the Lions, is where the real thrills are this Halloween season. As an avid football bettor, I’m sharing my top four picks for the Lions-Bengals game, guaranteed to add some treats to your betting slip.
1. David Montgomery Anytime Touchdown (-110, or -105 with 40+ Rush Yards)
This bet is as sweet as a Halloween lollipop and just as reliable. David Montgomery returns to his hometown of Cincinnati for the first time in his NFL career, with family and friends cheering him on. Expect him to play with extra fire under the October moonlight. In his 36 games with the Lions, Montgomery has scored in 25, including three touchdowns already this season. The Lions love feeding him in blowout wins, and he’s delivered in seven of eight games where Detroit scored 40+ points, racking up 10 touchdowns. With the Lions favored by 10.5 points, a rout is brewing, making Montgomery a lock to find the end zone. For a juicier payout, pair his anytime touchdown with 40+ rushing yards (available at -105). He’s hit 40+ yards in 21 of his 25 scoring games, making this parlay a safe bet to haunt the Bengals’ defense.
2. Lions -10.5 Spread (-105)
The Lions are a covering machine under head coach Dan Campbell, boasting a 40-22 record against the spread. Meanwhile, the Bengals are reeling, outscored 76-10 in their last two games since losing quarterback Joe Burrow. Detroit, on the other hand, has dominated, outscoring opponents 124-61 over their last three games, covering the spread each time. Even with early-game defensive hiccups—allowing an opening-drive touchdown in every game this season—the Lions’ defense, led by coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, is poised to break that trend. If you discount those opening scores, Detroit’s outscored opponents 124-40. I predict a Halloween massacre in Cincinnati, with the Lions winning 38-14, covering the spread by three scores.
3. Jameson Williams Longest Reception Over 24.5 Yards (-113)
Jameson Williams, the Lions’ deep-ball king, is ready to torment defenses with his speed. In his last three games, he’s notched four receptions of at least 24 yards, three exceeding 27 yards. Last week, quarterback Jared Goff took multiple deep shots to Williams, connecting on one despite slight miscues. The Bengals’ secondary has been frightfully porous, allowing six passes over 25 yards and eight over 23 yards in their first four games. With Cincinnati’s first-round rookie pass rusher Shemar Stewart ruled out, Goff will have extra time to find Williams streaking downfield. Williams ranked second in the NFL last season with six touchdown catches of 25+ yards, and he’s primed to add another big play in this spooky showdown.
4. Jahmyr Gibbs Over 72.5 Rushing Yards (-110)
Jahmyr Gibbs is ready to run wild like a werewolf under a full moon. In two of his last three games, he’s surpassed 72.5 rushing yards, and in the one game he didn’t (67 yards), a 9-yard run was nullified by a holding penalty. Over his last 25 games with the Lions, Gibbs has hit 73+ yards in 17. The Bengals’ run defense has been ghastly, allowing the seventh-most rushing yards per game to opposing backs. They recently surrendered 116 yards on 16 carries to Jordan Mason and 101 yards on 16 carries to J.K. Dobbins. With Gibbs’ rush attempt line set at 15.5, he’s likely to get 16 carries, easily eclipsing 72.5 yards in this favorable matchup.
Parlay for the Win
For those looking to conjure up a big payout this Halloween season, combine these four bets into a parlay for odds between +650 and +700, depending on your sportsbook. A $10 bet could net you $65-$70, a perfect treat to kick off your October festivities. So, grab your broomstick, place these bets, and watch the Lions haunt the Bengals in a game that’s sure to be a one sided thriller.