Football
The Detroit Lions (14-2) and Minnesota Vikings (14-2) will meet on Sunday Night Football to close out NFL Week 18. The longtime NFC North rivals will square off for the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoff bracket. The loser will become the fifth seed in the NFC playoff picture. Minnesota has won nine straight games, including a 27-25 victory over the Green Bay Packers in Week 17. Detroit has won two consecutive games. Last week, the Lions topped the San Francisco 49ers, 40-34. In Week 7, the Lions beat the Vikings, 31-29.
Kickoff from Ford Field in Detroit is set for 8:20 p.m. ET. Detroit is a 3-point favorite in the latest Vikings vs. Lions odds from the SportsLine Consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 56.5, up 9.5 points from the opener. The Lions are 7-0 in their last seven meetings against an opponent from the NFC North and are -155 money-line favorites (risk $155 to win $100). Before locking in any Vikings vs. Lions picks, make sure to check out the NFL predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, is up well over $7,000 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception. The model enters Week 18 of the 2024 NFL season on a 30-14 betting hot streak on top-rated NFL picks this year, a stunning 68% success rate. Longer term, it is on a 210-142 roll on top-rated NFL picks that dates back to the 2017 season and a 64-35 roll on top-rated NFL picks since Week 7 of 2022.
The model also ranked in the top 10 on NFLPickWatch four of the past six years on straight-up NFL picks and beat more than 94% of CBS Sports Football Pick’em players four times during that span. Anyone following at sportsbooks and on betting apps has seen strong returns.
Now, the model has simulated Vikings vs. Lions 10,000 times and just revealed its coveted NFL picks and NFL betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NFL odds and NFL betting lines for Vikings vs. Lions:
- Vikings vs. Lions spread: Detroit -3
- Vikings vs. Lions over/under: 56.5 points
- Vikings vs. Lions money line: Detroit -155, Minnesota +130
- DET: Lions are 11-5 against the spread this season
- MIN: Vikings are 11-4-1 against the spread this season
- Vikings vs. Lions picks: See picks at SportsLine
- Vikings vs. Lions streaming: FuboTV (Try for free)
Football Why the Lions can cover
Quarterback Jared Goff is an accurate signal-caller. He ranks second in the league in passing yards (4,398) and fourth in passing touchdowns (38). The Cal product has five straight games with multiple passing touchdowns. He completed 88% of his passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns in his first meeting with Minnesota this season.
Running back Jahmyr Gibbs is the lead workhorse with David Montgomery (knee) sidelined. Gibbs is sixth in the league in rushing yards (1,273) and rushing touchdowns (6). He also has 47 catches for 486 yards and three touchdowns. Gibbs has recorded a rushing touchdown in three consecutive games. See who to back at SportsLine.
Football Why the Vikings can cover
Quarterback Sam Darnold is having a career year. The USC product is fourth in the league in passing yards (4,153) and fifth in passing touchdowns (35). Darnold has notched 300-plus yards in three games this year.
Receiver Justin Jefferson is an effortless playmaker with a large catch radius. The 25-year-old is seventh in the NFL in catches (100), second in receiving yards (1,479), and tied for fifth in receiving touchdowns (10). In addition, he has 27 catches of 20-plus yards. Jefferson has five games with at least 100 yards this season. See who to back at SportsLine.
Football How to make Vikings vs. Lions picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning Under on the point total, projecting the teams to combine for 54 points. The model also says one side of the spread cashes in nearly 60% of simulations. You can head to SportsLine to see the model’s picks.
So who wins Vikings vs. Lions on Sunday Night Football, and which side of the spread hits almost 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Vikings vs. Lions spread to back, all from the model that has returned well over $7,000 on top-rated NFL picks, and find out.
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