Bodog Beat

It isn't a stretch to say that Calvin Johnson of the Detroit Lions is one of the NFL's best WR. (AP Images)

Mark it down and bet on it: The Detroit Lions will win more games than in 2008. In fact, at least 200 percent more games. Yep, even two wins this year would be a step forward for the historically bad Lions coming off the NFL's first-ever 0-16 season.

Hey, at least Detroit changed its logo to a meaner Lion this offseason!

Actually, the Lions finally get to start a season without Matt Millen in the front office, which automatically means this team is on a better track. Although it was odd to many that the Lions didn't go after a big name GM/coach type (Bill Parcells, Bill Cowher) in the offseason, instead promoting Martin Mayhew to GM and hiring solid but unspectacular coach Jim Schwartz, the former Titan defensive coordinator who had never been a head coach at any level.

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Detroit suffered arguably loss No. 17 last year when Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford declined to enter the draft. The Oklahoma star would have been no doubt the first overall pick, as he had a higher grade than Georgia's Matthew Stafford, whom the Lions took. But Stafford has looked good this offseason and may start on opening day – don’t be too giddy, he only needs beat out Daunte Culpepper. The offense has some nice weapons to build around in Stafford, RB Kevin Smith and WR Calvin Johnson.

But the defense is horrendous. Last season, Detroit's defense allowed a league-worst 32.3 points and 404.4 yards per game. QBs had a ridiculous 110.9 rating against that unit — Peyton Manning, by comparison, exceeded that number just five times in 2008. The Lions defense added a few free agents (Grady Jackson, Julian Peterson, Phillip Buchanon, to name a few) but still won't be very good.  There's nowhere to go but up.

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It's going to be another long year in Motown, but at least many Detroit fans won't have to see it – the team is struggling to sell tickets with Detroit getting hit extremely hard in this economy and the team being lousy on top of that. So many Lions home games might be blacked out.

Here is the Lions' 2009 schedule, and we'll break it down after:
Sept. 13 at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m.
Sept. 20 vs. Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m.
Sept. 27 vs. Washington Redskins, 1 p.m.
Oct. 4 at Chicago Bears, 1 p.m.
Oct. 11 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m.
Oct. 18 at Green Bay Packers, 1 p.m.
Week 7: Bye
Nov. 1 vs. St. Louis Rams, 1 p.m.
Nov. 8 at Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 p.m.
Nov. 15 at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m.
Nov. 22 vs. Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m.
Nov. 26 vs. Green Bay Packers, 12:30 p.m.
Dec. 6 at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m.
Dec. 13 at Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m.
Dec. 20 vs. Arizona Cardinals, 1 p.m.
Dec. 27 at San Francisco 49ers, 4:05 p.m.
Jan. 3 vs. Chicago Bears, 1 p.m.

Strength of schedule: 21st (opponents combined to go 119-136-1, .467, in 2008)
Projected record: 2-14
Bodog over/under total: 4 ½
Bodog odds to win Super Bowl XLIV: 100/1

As one would expect, the Lions' Bodog over/under win total of 4 ½ is the lowest in the NFL, one win ahead of Oakland and St. Louis.
However, Detroit has company at the longest-shot 100/1 to win Super Bowl XLIV, with Tampa Bay and the Rams joining the Lions there.

I won't bother going through each game on Detroit's schedule as I have with other teams, because this team isn't going to win more than a few. Let's look at the ones the Lions have a chance in.

Week 2 against the Vikings might seem like a long shot for Detroit, but the Lions could have beaten Minnesota twice last year and lost both meetings by a combined six points. Before you get excited about a possible upset here, realize that Minnesota has swept the season series in six of the past seven years and has won 19 of the past 22 games against the Lions.

Basically, look for Detroit to beat St. Louis in the Toilet Bowl on Nov. 1 and then upset Green Bay on Thanksgiving. The Lions have played the Packers more than any other team on Turkey Day and are 11-6-1 against Green Bay on that day. Detroit hasn't come within double digits of an opponent on Thanksgiving since 2003, but that year was Detroit's last win on the holiday and it came against the Pack – so call it a hunch.

In a schedule twist, for the first time since 1985 and the second time in franchise history, the Lions' home schedule includes games against the previous year's Super Bowl teams. Pittsburgh visits the Motor City in a regular-season game for the first time since 1998, and all those Steeler fans might guarantee a rare sell out.

A 2-14 record should be good enough for the No. 1 overall pick for a second straight season.

Bet early for the best odds. Get your 2009/10 Super Bowl odds at Bodog.