Detroit Lions vs Minnesota Vikings Betting Pick & Prediction 10/20/24

The Vikings are favored at -133 on the money line as they host the Lions at 1:00 ET on Sunday, October 20th at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The Vikings are -2.5 point favorites, and the over/under line is set at 49.5 points. This week seven NFC North matchup is being televised on FOX.

DETROIT LIONS VS MINNESOTA VIKINGS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Detroit Lions +2.5

This game will be played at U.S. Bank Stadium at 1:00 ET on Sunday, October 20th.

WHY BET THE DETROIT LIONS:

• We have the Lions winning this one by a score of 23 to 22
• Not only do we have the Lions winning straight-up, we have them covering the spread at +2.5
• We see this game finishing below the line of 49.5 points

Will The Lions Pick Up A Win On The Road?

With three straight wins, the Lions sit at 4-1 and rank first in our NFL power rankings. They have an 86.2% chance of making the playoffs and a 41.4% chance of winning the NFC North. Detroit is 2-0 on the road and 2-1 at home, with their only loss coming in week 2 against the Buccaneers. Since then, they’ve beaten the Cardinals (20-13), Seahawks (42-29), and Cowboys (47-9).

The Lions are 4-1 against the spread and have covered in three straight games. They were favored in all of their matchups, including a 3.5-point spread over the Cowboys in week 6. The O/U line for that game was 53.5 points, and the teams combined for 56. Detroit’s O/U record is 2-3, with the over hitting in their last two games.

Heading into week 7, the Lions’ offense is averaging 30.2 points per game, leading the NFL. They rank 3rd in the league in passing yards per game (258.2) and 4th in rushing yards per game (157.8), with 33 rushing attempts per game. Detroit ranks 6th in 3rd-down conversions but is 24th in red zone conversion percentage despite being 4th in red zone attempts.

Jared Goff has been on fire, posting a passer rating of 153 in week 6, with 315 yards and 3 touchdowns against the Cowboys. David Montgomery had 80 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns, while Jameson Williams led the team with 76 receiving yards on 3 catches.

The Lions’ defense was dominant in their 47-9 win over the Cowboys, allowing just 198 passing yards and forcing three interceptions. Dallas managed only 53 rushing yards on 17 attempts. Detroit’s defense also recorded four sacks and limited the Cowboys to a 23.1% conversion rate on third down.

Overall, the Lions held Dallas to just 251 total yards and kept them out of the endzone throughout the game. They also held the Cowboys to a 56.8% completion rate on their passes.

Will The Vikings Win At Home Over The Lions?

Heading into week 7, the Vikings sit atop the NFC North with a 5-0 record, giving them an 86.2% chance of making the playoffs and a 37.1% chance of winning the division. Minnesota ranks 8th in our NFL power rankings and has a +12.6 scoring margin. They are 5-0 against the spread, covering as both favorites (2-0) and underdogs (3-0). Their O/U record is 1-4, with their games averaging 43 points compared to an average line of 44.2.

In week 5, the Vikings beat the Jets 23-17, covering the 2.5-point spread. The O/U line was 42, and the teams combined for 40 points. In week 4, Minnesota narrowly defeated the Packers 31-29, winning outright as 2.5-point underdogs. The 60 total points in that game went over the 44-point line.

Sam Darnold’s passer rating has dropped in each of his last three games, going from 123 in week 4 to 50 in week 5, when he threw for 179 yards and an interception on 14/31 passing. Justin Jefferson has been consistent, leading the team in receiving in each of the last three games, with 92 yards on 6 catches in week 5. Minnesota ranks 19th in passing yards per game and 26th in pass attempts.

On the ground, Ty Chandler had 30 yards on 14 carries in week 5, taking over for Aaron Jones, who is questionable for week 7 with a hip injury. The Vikings are 12th in rushing attempts and 20th in rushing yards per game. They lead the NFL in first-quarter scoring, averaging 9.6 points.

The Vikings’ defense picked off three passes in their 23-17 win over the Jets, despite giving up two passing touchdowns. They held the Jets to just 36 yards rushing on 14 attempts, with a tough rush defense that allowed only 2.6 yards per attempt. Minnesota also recorded three sacks and held the Jets to a 29.4% conversion rate on third down.

Even though the Jets had 218 passing yards, the Vikings’ defense limited them to a 53.7% completion rate. Minnesota’s defense also won the QB hit battle, finishing with four more hits on the quarterback than the Jets.