February 6, 2025

Sport and Betting News

Sunday Night Football Prediction, Pick & Odds for Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit Lions

13 mins
  • We’ve made our Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit Lions prediction for Sunday Night Football
  • The latest MIN vs DET odds favor the Lions by 2.5 points at home
  • Read below for Vikings vs Lions prediction, odds and expert picks

The Minnesota Vikings (14-2) head to Ford Field to battle the Detroit Lions (14-2) in what shapes up as a massive NFC North showdown on Sunday Night Football. The stakes couldn’t be higher – both teams are fighting for the division crown and the NFC’s No. 1 playoff seed.

The red-hot Vikings roll in riding a nine-game heater, fresh off a gutsy 27-25 win over the Packers. The Lions, meanwhile, have strung together four straight W’s, including a wild 40-34 shootout against the 49ers on Monday night.

Here is a look at our Vikings vs Lions prediction, along with the betting lines for Week 18 Sunday Night Football.

Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit Lions Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Total
Vikings +2.5 (-110) +130 Over 56.5 (-110)
Lions -2.5 (-110) -150 Under 56.5 (-110)

The Vikings vs Lions odds show Detroit as a 2.5-point home favorite, translating to a 59% implied probability. The Lions need to win by a field goal or more to cover the spread.

This line opened with the Lions as 3-point favorites before ticking down to 2.5. The Vikings are earning 62% of the money against the spread with only 56% of bets, as the line movement indicates some respected money on Minnesota.

The total opened at 52.5 points and has skyrocketed to 56.5 thanks to an influx of sharp action on the Over. Professional bettors clearly expect a high-scoring shootout between star quarterbacks Sam Darnold and Jared Goff.

Odds current as of January 5, 2025 at ESPN Sportsbook. Check out the latest Week 18 NFL point spreads here.

Vikings Betting Outlook

The Vikings have been the NFL’s biggest surprise story in 2024, as Sam Darnold’s career renaissance and a lockdown defense have them knocking on the door of the NFC’s top spot. Darnold, who’s transformed into a legitimate MVP candidate, has lit it up for 4,153 yards and 35 touchdowns.

Justin Jefferson keeps showing why he’s the league’s most electric playmaker, leading the Vikings with 100 catches for 1,479 yards and 10 scores. He’s absolutely owned Ford Field lately, torching the Lions for 34 catches, 597 yards and two touchdowns in his last three visits. With Detroit’s secondary banged up, Jefferson could be in for another monster day.

Aaron Jones has given Minnesota’s ground game some serious juice, rumbling for 1,093 yards and five scores. Getting him going early will be crucial to keeping Goff and Detroit’s high-powered offense watching from the sideline.

Lions Betting Outlook

The Lions have been must-see TV this season, riding their explosive offense and opportunistic defense to a sparkling 14-2 mark. Goff has been dealing, putting up 4,398 yards and 36 touchdowns while only throwing 10 picks.

Detroit’s offensive weapons are giving defensive coordinators nightmares. Amon-Ra St. Brown (109 catches, 1,186 yards, 12 TDs) and Jameson Williams (52 grabs, 967 yards, 7 scores) form one of the NFL’s most lethal receiver duos. Sophomore tight end Sam LaPorta has been another weapon, adding 53 catches for 663 yards and seven scores.

In the backfield, 22-year-old sensation Jahmyr Gibbs has stepped up huge with David Montgomery sidelined. The Alabama product has piled up 1,273 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, while adding 47 catches for 486 yards and three more scores through the air.

Detroit’s defense has sprung some leaks lately, getting gashed for 32.5 points and 476.5 yards per game over their last three. They’ll need some magic from ballhawk safety Kerby Joseph (9 picks) to contain Darnold and Jefferson.

Vikings vs Lions Prediction

While I don’t have a strong lean on either side, I do believe we’re in store for a high-scoring classic. The Vikings and Lions have combined to score 50+ points in each of the last six meetings, with the winner reaching the 30-point mark four times during that span. Even against Minnesota’s elite defense, I expect Goff and his plethora of weapons to find success.

On the flip side, the Lions simply haven’t been able to stop anybody of late. Over their last three games, Detroit has allowed an average of 32.5 points per game and 476.5 yards of total offense. Darnold and Jefferson should have a field day against a Lions secondary missing several key contributors.

Everything points to an old-fashioned NFC North shootout under the bright lights of Ford Field. With both offenses clicking and Detroit’s defense struggling, this one has all the makings of a back-and-forth thriller that comes down to the wire.

The total has ballooned from 52.5 to 56.5, taking away some of the early value. Still, with my projected final score landing in the 60s, there’s enough meat on the bone to play the Over. Look for both teams to trade haymakers in a game that should feature plenty of fireworks.

A key betting trend is that the total has gone over in Minny’s last five games when playing on the road against Detroit. The Vikings and Lions combined for 60 points in a 31-29 Detroit win back in Week 7, and I’m expecting a similar shootout here.

Week 18 SNF Pick:

  • Over 56.5 Points (-110 at ESPN Bet)
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The Minnesota Vikings will be facing off against the Detroit Lions in a highly anticipated Sunday Night Football matchup. Both teams are coming off of wins in their previous games and will be looking to continue their momentum in this divisional showdown.

The Vikings are currently sitting at a record of 5-6 and are coming off of a dominant 27-20 victory over the Green Bay Packers. Quarterback Kirk Cousins had a solid performance, throwing for 341 yards and three touchdowns. The Vikings’ offense has been clicking in recent weeks, with running back Dalvin Cook leading the way with over 1,000 rushing yards on the season.

On the other side, the Lions are coming off of a surprising 29-27 win over the Chicago Bears. Quarterback Jared Goff had a strong showing, throwing for 299 yards and two touchdowns. The Lions have struggled this season, with a record of 0-10-1, but they have shown flashes of potential in recent weeks.

In terms of odds, the Vikings are currently favored to win this matchup with a spread of -7.5 points. The over/under is set at 47.5 points, indicating that oddsmakers are expecting a relatively high-scoring game.

In terms of a prediction, the Vikings appear to have the edge in this matchup. Their offense has been firing on all cylinders in recent weeks, and they have a strong defense that should be able to contain the Lions’ offense. Look for Kirk Cousins and Dalvin Cook to have big games as the Vikings come away with a win on Sunday Night Football.

Overall, this should be an exciting matchup between two division rivals with plenty on the line. Tune in to see if the Vikings can continue their winning ways or if the Lions can pull off an upset on Sunday night.

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