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The Minnesota Vikings (14-2) and Detroit Lions (14-2) clash Sunday to decide the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Kickoff from Ford Field is set for 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NFL odds around the Vikings vs. Lions odds, and make our expert NFL picks and predictions.
Minnesota escaped with a 27-25 win over the Green Bay Packers Sunday in Week 17 as a 1-point home favorite. QB Sam Darnold was 33-of-43 passing for 377 yards with 3 TDs and 1 INT. The Vikings have won 9 consecutive games and scored at least 27 points in 4 straight.
Detroit beat the San Francisco 49ers 40-34 on Monday Night Football while covering as a 3.5-point road favorite. The Lions backfield was dominant against the 49ers as QB Jared Goff went 26-of-34 passing for 303 yards with 3 TDs and RB Jahmyr Gibbs rushed 18 times for 117 yards and a TD of his own. The Lions have put up 34 or more points in 4 straight games, but have also allowed an average of 32.5 points during that stretch.
The winner of Sunday’s meeting will clinch the NFC North and the conference’s No. 1 seed (Detroit also gets the 1 seed if the game ends in a tie). The loser will enter the playoffs as the No. 5 seed.
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Vikings at Lions odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of NFL odds. Lines last updated Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Vikings +130 (bet $100 to win $130) | Lions -155 (bet $155 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Vikings +3 (-115) | Lions -3 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 56 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Vikings at Lions key injuries
Vikings
- CB Fabian Moreau (hip) questionable
Lions
- LB Alex Anzalone (forearm) questionable
- RB David Montgomery (knee) out
- WR Kalif Raymond (foot) questionable
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Vikings at Lions picks and predictions
Prediction
Lions 32, Vikings 30
Moneyline
BET LIONS (-155).
The Lions have an explosive offense, averaging a league-best 33.3 points per game (PPG), and Minnesota will not be able to keep up with that firepower. Minnesota is better defensively, but I don’t expect defense to decide this game.
The Vikings are also more turnover prone — with 21 giveaways this season compared to 13 for Detroit — which will be the downfall of Minnesota in this tightly contested matchup.
This is a risky bet, as beating a team as good as this Vikings squad twice in one season is very difficult.
Against the spread
LEAN VIKINGS +3 (-115).
Minnesota has covered the spread in 4 straight, while the Lions are just 2-3 ATS in their last 5. The Vikings are also 2-0-1 ATS in their last 3 road games.
The Vikings have proven that their offense is much better than I have given them credit for throughout the season, scoring 26.4 PPG. Combine that with their defense, and you have the perfect recipe for the Vikings to make this one a classic, down-to-the-wire divisional battle.
This is a very slight lean, as Detroit is 11-5 ATS this season and the Lions are a dominant 8-1-1 ATS in the last 10 meetings between these teams.
Over/Under
BET OVER 56 (-110).
The Over has hit in Detroit’s last 4 games and is 9-6-1 for the Lions this season. For Minnesota, the Over is 2-0 in its last 2 road games and 3-1 in its last 4 overall. The Over has also dominated in recent meetings, going 7-3 in the last 10.
Be aware that Minnesota’s defense is very good, holding opponents to just 18.8 PPG this season, so the Over does come with some risk here.
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