Lions vs Vikings: Preview, odds, and best bets
The Detroit Lions (10-4) bounced back last week by trouncing the Broncos at home. They will look to win consecutive games for the first time in over a month as they travel to take on the Minnesota Vikings (7-7), and you can find all the best betting lines on Michigan’s top sportsbooks.
A win for Detroit would clinch the NFC North and a home playoff game for playoff-starved Lions. Minnesota currently holds one of the final NFC wildcard spots, and could keep their division hopes alive with a win. These two will meet again in two weeks in the regular season finale. NFL bettorsknow just how pivotal divisional matchups are, especially in late December. To prepare for this matchup, we’ll preview this game and hand out some best bets.
The Detroit Lions’ playoff history is not exactly overflowing. They last made the playoffs seven years ago and haven’t won their division since 1993. They are 0-9 in wildcard games. But a win on Christmas Eve clinches them a playoff home game. They are only one game out of the top spot in the NFC. Jared Goff will be key in this matchup. Goff threw for five touchdowns in last week’s dismantling of Denver. Half of Goff’s 10 interceptions thrown this season have come against the blitz, and no defense in the NFL blitzes more than the Vikings.
Ty Chandler ran for 132 yards last week against Cincinnati, the Vikings’ first 100-yard rushing performance in more than a year. Chandler has given the running game a much-needed boost, one that is necessary for Minnesota’s playoff hopes. Nick Mullens has been serviceable since Kirk Cousins went down for the year, and his receiving options are well-known (especially with the return of a healthy Justin Jefferson). A formidable run game would provide another element for this team, and they hope Chandler will take the lead role. He has a tough battle this week against a top-ten rushing defense in the Lions.
The Lions have struggled lately, losing two of three games. They put much of these worries to rest though in their gang-style beatdown of Denver. It is well-documented that Goff is much better indoors (22-8 ATS last three seasons) than outdoors (9-15-1 in December/January). Luckily for the Lions, this game will be played indoors. For all their struggles, Detroit has been the best ATS team in the NFL since the beginning of last season. They are the better team in this matchup and should cover here.
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Like Detroit, Minnesota has one of the league’s best rushing defenses. Still, this line is a bit confusing based on Montgomery’s production this season. Montgomery has reached this total in 10 of 11 games this season, and the only game he didn’t is when he left early with injury. Difficult matchup or not, Montgomery has been as consistent as they come.
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