The Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions are set to square off indoors at Ford Field. FOX is scheduled to have the TV rights and this vital early afternoon matchup gets underway at 1:00 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings
In this Sunday NFC game, Detroit is projected as the favorite and is currently giving up 1 point. The Vikings are also receiving -105 moneyline odds while the Lions are -115. There might be multiple good live betting opportunities in the game, and oddsmakers have set the over/under (O/U) at 44 points.
Both of these teams have rewarded gamblers this season as the Vikings have gained 1.9 units and the Lions are up 1.5 units.
The Vikings have gone 4-2 straight up (SU), including 0-2 SU against NFC North opponents. The Lions are 2-2-1 SU overall and 0-1 SU versus divisional foes.
Detroit enters this contest on a zero-game winning streak while Minnesota has lost zero straight. The Vikings want to keep things rolling after a 38-20 victory over Philadelphia in Week 6. Kirk Cousins completed 22-of-29 passes for 333 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Dalvin Cook (only 41 rushing yards on 16 attempts, one TD) and Alexander Mattison (63 yards on 14 carries) led the ground attack while Stefon Diggs (seven receptions, 167 yards, three TDs) and Adam Thielen (six catches, 57 yards, one TD) handled the receiving duties in the win.
Back in Week 6, Green Bay got the win against this Detroit crew by a score of 23-22. The Lions defense allowed the Packers to kill the clock by running for 170 yards on 29 rush attempts. Jamaal Williams had a good outing, posting 104 rushing yards on 14 attempts for Green Bay. For Detroit, Matthew Stafford completed 18-of-32 passes for 265 yards. Kerryon Johnson (34 yards on 13 rush attempts, one TD) led the running game while Kenny Golladay (five receptions, 121 yards) and T.J. Hockenson (four catches, 21 yards) led the pass-catching attack in the loss.
Minnesota has run the ball on 54.8 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Detroit has an overall rush percentage of 45.3 percent. The Vikings have produced 159 rush yards per game (including 119 per game against North opponents) and have nine touchdowns on the ground this year. The Lions are putting up 107.6 rushing yards per game (56 in conference) and have two total rush TDs.
If the numbers so far this season are any indication, then it’s looking like the Vikings could have an edge in terms of RB efficiency, as their running backs has generated 5.1 yards per carry while the defense is allowing a YPC of 3.8 to opponents. The Lions have registered 3.8 yards per carry and given up 5.1 yards per rush attempt to opponents.
The Vikes offense has logged 229 yards per contest in the air overall (231.5 per game versus conference opposition) and has nine passing scores so far. The Lions have produced 277.4 pass yards per game (265 against NFC foes) and also have nine total pass TDs.
Defensively, Minnesota appears to have the upper hand in both phases. The team has let opponents run for an average of 91.5 yards and pass for 241.2 yards per game. The Detroit defense has allowed 291.6 yards per game to opposing passers and 133.8 yards per game on the ground. The Vikes are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 5.12 to opposing QBs, while the Lions have allowed a 6.38 ANY/A.
Offensively, Cousins is up to 1,068 passing yards this year. The signal-caller has completed 86-of-128 attempts with seven scores through the air and three interceptions. He has a 7.34 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 11.32 over the past two games.
Dalvin Cook, Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen have combined to account for 688 total yards and seven touchdowns over the last couple of outings.
Matthew Stafford has completed 85-of-139 passes for 1,096 yards, six TDs and two INTs for Detroit. His ANY/A sits at 7.45 for the season and 7.73 over his last two games.
Kerryon Johnson, Kenny Golladay and Marvin Hall have collectively accounted for 511 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns over the last couple of outings.
Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions NFL Prediction
SU Winner: Lions, ATS Winner: Lions, O/U: Under
Team Betting Trends
- Detroit has lost four fumbles this season while Minnesota has lost six.
- The Minnesota defensive unit has sacked opposing QBs 17 times this season. Detroit has registered just 10 sacks.
- Minnesota, as a team, has produced 4.4 yards per carry over its last three games and 4.8 over its last two.
- Detroit has averaged 4.0 yards per carry over its last three contests and 4.4 over its last two.
- In its last three matchups, Detroit is 3-0 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Minnesota’s previous game was set at 44.5. The over cashed in the team’s 38-20 victory over Philadelphia.
- In its last three games, Minnesota is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Detroit’s last game was 55. The under cashed in the team’s 23-22 loss to Green Bay.
