Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit Lions Betting Pick & Prediction 1/5/25

With the Vikings at +129 on the money line, the Lions are favored at -154 as they host Minnesota in a week 18 NFC North matchup. The game will be played at Ford Field in Detroit, with the Lions favored by -3 on the point spread. The over/under line is set at 56 points. The Vikings vs. Lions game is scheduled for 8:20 ET on Sunday, televised by NBC.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS VS DETROIT LIONS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Minnesota Vikings +3

This game will be played at Ford Field at 8:20 ET on Sunday, January 5th.

WHY BET THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS:

• We have the Vikings winning this one by a score of 34 to 30
• Not only do we have the Vikings winning straight-up, we have them covering the spread at +3
• Look for this game to go over the line of 56 points

Will The Vikings Pick Up A Win On The Road?

The Vikings head into week 18 with a nine-game winning streak, including a 27-25 victory over the Packers in week 17. This win brought their record to 14-2, putting them 2nd in the NFC North and 5th in the conference. Minnesota has a 100% chance of making the playoffs and a 34.9% chance of winning the division. They rank 6th in our NFL power rankings.

Against the spread, the Vikings are 11-4-1, with a +7.6 scoring margin. They have covered in four straight games, including a narrow win over the Packers as 0.5-point underdogs. Their O/U record is 7-9, with the over hitting in their last two games.

Heading into week 18, the Vikings are 10th in our offensive power rankings, averaging 26.4 points per game, which ranks 9th in the NFL. They are 12th in the league in yards per game (352.2) and 20th in passing attempts, with 31.7 per game, but they rank 5th in passing yards, averaging 243.8 per game. Minnesota ranks 10th in the NFL in 3rd-down conversion percentage (41.2%) and 22nd in red zone conversion percentage.

Sam Darnold threw for 377 yards and 3 touchdowns in week 17, completing 33 of 43 passes. Justin Jefferson had 8 catches for 92 yards, and Aaron Jones rushed for 47 yards on 12 carries. Minnesota scored 14 points in the 3rd quarter against Green Bay but were held scoreless in the 1st and 4th quarters.

In their 27-25 win over the Packers, the Vikings’ defense allowed just 167 passing yards. They also recorded three sacks and held Green Bay to 104 rushing yards on 24 attempts. The Vikings’ defense was effective on third downs, allowing just a 57.1% conversion rate, and they limited the Packers to 5.6 yards per attempt in the passing game.

Minnesota’s defense also won the quarterback hit battle, finishing with a +4 differential, despite losing the tackles for loss battle by -6. The Vikings gave up just one touchdown through the air, and Green Bay finished with a 63.3% completion percentage against them.

Will The Lions Win At Home Over The Vikings?

With a 14-2 record, the Lions hold the top spot in our NFL power rankings and have a 65.1% chance of winning the NFC North. They’ve already clinched a playoff berth. After a week 15 loss to the Bills, Detroit bounced back with wins over the Bears and 49ers, including a 40-34 victory over San Francisco in week 17. The Lions were 3.5-point favorites in that game and covered the spread, bringing their ATS record to 11-4-1.

Detroit’s O/U record stands at 9-6-1, with the over hitting in four straight games. Their contests have averaged 54.1 points, compared to a 50.1-point O/U line. Against the 49ers, the teams combined for 74 points, surpassing the 50-point line.

Jared Goff has been on fire, posting passer ratings of 132 in week 17, 136 in week 16, and 118 in week 15. Against the 49ers, he threw for 303 yards and 3 touchdowns without an interception. Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 117 yards on 18 carries, while Jameson Williams led the team with 77 receiving yards on 5 catches.

Detroit’s offense is averaging 33.3 points per game, leading the NFL, and they rank 2nd in passing yards per game with 266.1. They also rank 6th in rushing, averaging 144.4 yards per game, and are 3rd in 3rd-down conversions with a 47.9% success rate.

In their 40-34 win over the 49ers, the Lions’ defense gave up 400 yards through the air, with San Francisco completing 75% of their passes. Despite this, the defense did come up with two interceptions. The Lions struggled to get off the field on third down, allowing the 49ers to convert 62.5% of their third down attempts. Detroit defended the run well, allowing just 75 yards on 18 attempts.

The Lions allowed 475 total yards and gave up three passing touchdowns. They managed two sacks and held the advantage in the quarterback hit differential. However, they did allow the 49ers to gain 10 yards per pass attempt.