The Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings will collide indoors at U.S. Bank Stadium. Kickoff for this NFC North showdown is set for 1:00 p.m. ET and FOX is scheduled to have the TV rights.
Betting Preview: Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota is the heavy favorite and is currently giving up 16 points to Detroit. Oddsmakers have set the over/under (O/U) at 42.5 points, and if one team finds paydirt in the early stages, it will likely create a nice betting opportunity in-game.
The Lions are 5-7 against the spread (ATS) and have lost 5.2 units so far. The team’s posted an O/U record of 8-4.
The Vikings are up 3.0 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 6-5 ATS and have an O/U record of 6-5.
The Lions are just 3-8-1 straight up (SU), including 0-4 SU against NFC North opponents. The Vikings are 8-4 SU overall and 1-2 SU against divisional foes.
The Lions fell to Chicago 24-20 in a Week 13 game where their secondary allowed the Bears to air it out for 338 yards and three touchdowns. Anthony Miller had a good day for the Bears in that one with 140 yards on nine catches. On the offensive side of the ball, David Blough completed 22 passes for 280 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Bo Scarbrough (83 rushing yards on 21 attempts) led the ground attack while T.J. Hockenson (six receptions, 18 yards) and Kenny Golladay (four catches, 158 yards, one TD) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
Back in Week 13, Seattle took care of this Minnesota crew by a score of 37-30. The Vikes defense let the Seahawks kill the clock by running for 218 yards on 43 rush attempts, including two rush TDs. Chris Carson had a productive showing, recording 102 rushing yards and a score on 23 attempts for Seattle. For Minnesota, Kirk Cousins completed 22-of-38 passes for 276 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Dalvin Cook (29 rushing yards on nine attempts, one TD) spearheaded the running game as Stefon Diggs (four receptions, 25 yards) and Mattison (four catches, 51 yards) led the receiving attack in the loss.
Detroit’s run the ball on 42.5 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Minnesota has an overall rush percentage of 50 percent. The Lions have rushed for 105.6 yards/game (including 85 per game against North opponents) and have four scores on the ground this year. The Vikes are totaling 137.1 rush yards per game (134.7 in conference) and have 15 total rushing TDs.
It appears that the Vikes ought to own the edge when it comes to RB effectiveness, since their backfield has logged 4.6 yards per carry while their defense has allowed a YPC of 4.2 to opponents. The Lions have recorded 3.9 yards per carry while allowing a YPC of 4.4 to opponents.
The Lions offense has averaged 288.7 yards through the air overall (294.5 per game versus conference opposition) and has 25 passing TDs so far. The Vikes have put up 252.7 pass yards per outing (267 against NFC competition) and have 23 total pass scores.
Defensively, Detroit has allowed opponents to run for an average of 118 yards and pass for 293.2 yards per game. The Minnesota D has given up 263.7 yards per game to opposing passers and 104.5 yards per game to opposing runners. The Vikes are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 5.94 to opposing QBs, while the Lions have allowed a 7.67 ANY/A.
Offensively, Blough has put up 280 passing yards this season, and has completed 58 percent of his 38 attempts with two scores through the air and one interception. Blough has a 6.35 adjusted net yards per pass attempt.
On the other sideline, Kirk Cousins has completed 219-of-323 passes for 2,713 yards, 20 TDs and four INTs. Cousins’ ANY/A sits at 8.26 for the year and 7.88 over his last two outings.
Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings Free Prediction
SU Winner: , ATS Winner: Lions, O/U: Over
Betting Trends
- The O/U for Detroit’s last game was 37.5. The over cashed in the team’s 24-20 loss to Chicago.
- As a team, Detroit has averaged 4.6 yards per carry over its past three games and 4.7 over its last two.
- Minnesota has averaged 3.9 yards per carry over its last three contests and only 3.6 over its last two.
- The Minnesota offense has lost 11 fumbles this season while Detroit has lost seven.
- Over its last three matchups, Detroit is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- Detroit has lost nine of its last 10 games SU, with a five-point win over New York on October 27th representing the only victory over that stretch.
- The Over/Under for Minnesota’s last match was 40.5. The over cashed in the 37-30 defeat to Seattle.
- In its last three matchups, Minnesota is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
- The Lions offense has registered 10 pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Vikings have put up seven such plays.
- The Detroit defense has allowed eight pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Minnesota has given up seven such plays.
- The Detroit offense has created four rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while Minnesota has created 13 such runs.
- The Lions defense has allowed five rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Vikings have given up four such runs.
- The Minnesota defense has produced 33 sacks on the year while Detroit has just 24.
