Vikings vs. Lions Prediction
Can the Detroit Lions emerge with an important Thanksgiving Day win when they host the Minnesota Vikings today at 12:30PM ET?
According to the oddsmakers at BetDSI, the Lions are a slight favorite at home in this game, as Detroit is getting odds of -2.5 points against the Vikings. The over/under total for the contest has been set at 41.5 points. The Lions have won three of the last five in this series, including a 22-16 OT win in Minnesota on Nov. 6. The Vikings are 4-2 against the spread in the last six meetings.
Detroit is coming off a 26-19 win over the Jaguars last week at home to move to 6-4 on the season. Detroit has won five of its last six games coming into Thanksgiving, covering in each win to go 6-4 against the spread. However, the Lions have trailed in the fourth quarter of every game this season, yet still find themselves with a winning record. Detroit is averaging 23.1 points and 344.6 yards per game on offense. The group is struggling to run the ball, averaging only 79.5 yards per game on the ground. Matthew Stafford has thrown for 2,651 yards and 18 touchdowns with five interceptions. Defensively, Detroit is giving up 22.5 points and 369.7 yards per game. However, the unit has been great lately. They have held their last four opponents to 20 points or less. The team was hopeful to get DeAndre Levy back this week, but the linebacker remains out with a quad injury that has kept him out since Week 1.
Minnesota snapped a four-game losing streak last Sunday with a 30-24 victory over the Cardinals. The Vikings are 6-4 on the season and 6-4 against the spread. They also have covered in all their wins. The Vikings rely heavily on their defense as they are giving up 17.6 points and 327.1 yards per game. Their pass defense is allowing just 226.3 yards per game. The unit has 26 sacks this season with 20 turnovers. Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter have combined for 13 sacks while Xavier Rhodes has four interceptions. Offensively, Minnesota has struggled. The Vikings are averaging just 20.5 points and 312.7 yards per game. They have the league’s worst run game at just 70 yards per contest. Sam Bradford has thrown for 2,191 yards and 12 touchdowns but has just two interceptions.
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The first meeting between these two was a physical battle where both teams struggled to score. Minnesota had just 78 rushing yards while the Lions were held to only 214 passing yards. Surprisingly turnovers weren’t a major part, but they could be today. The Lions have done very well on Thanksgiving in recent years, winning the last three by a combined 78 points. With so much at stake for a franchise that hasn’t won a division title since 1993, look for an energized effort from the Lions today.
NFL WEEK 12 PREDICTION: DETROIT LIONS -2.5