Vikings vs. Lions, 10/20/19 NFL Week 7 Betting Odds & Predictions

Vikings vs. Lions Week 7 Prediction

Following their heartbreaking loss Monday in Green Bay, will the Lions rebound on Sunday when they host another NFC North rival in the Vikings at 1:00 p.m. ET? Detroit finds itself as a 2.5-point home underdog to Minnesota this afternoon.

Game Snapshot

457 Minnesota Vikings (-2.5) at 458 Detroit Lions (+2.5); O/U 43

1:00 p.m. ET, Sunday, October 20, 2019

Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

Public Betting Trends

According to our NFL Football Public Betting Chart page, the Vikings are receiving 53% of the betting tickets from online sportsbooks.

Minnesota Vikings Fantasy Spin

Kirk Cousins completed 22-of-29 passes for 333 yards and four touchdowns in the Vikings' 38-20, Week 6 win over the Eagles. Cousins' first score was a six-yard hookup with Adam Thielen, and then Stefon Diggs took over. Diggs caught Cousins' final three touchdowns, with a couple 62- and 51-yard bombs mixed in to go with a toe-tapping red-zone score. Cousins has now topped 300 yards in back-to-back games with multiple scores in both. The Vikings will likely continue to be a run-first team, but Cousins is putting himself back in the fantasy conversation ahead of a Week 7 date with the Lions.

Detroit Lions Fantasy Spin

Darius Slay (questionable, hamstring) is expected to play Week 7 against the Vikings. Slay didn't receive his normal practice reps this week (he was a limited participant at all three sessions), though there was never any real concern over his Week 7 status. We imagine he'll see a steady dose of Stefon Diggs, who obliterated the Eagles to the tune of 167 yards and three touchdowns in Week 6.

NFL Betting Trends

Minnesota

The Vikings are 4-1 against the spread in their last five trips to Detroit and are 17-8-3 against the number in their last 28 games versus the Lions overall.

Detroit

The underdog is just 1-4 against the spread in the last five meetings between these two teams, while the home squad is 2-5 at the betting window in the last seven meetings.

Prediction

I see some value in the home dog here but I don’t love the matchup for the Lions. Detroit can’t run the ball, which was one of its issues on Monday night at Lambeau Field. The Lions built a lead, made enough plays to win the game, were the victims of some poor officiating, but they also couldn’t run the ball in efforts to salt away the clock and build upon their lead. That’s going to be an issue today versus the Vikings, who have a ferocious pass rush. If the Lions can’t run the ball and take some heat off Matthew Stafford, then the Vikings will feast in obvious passing situations. Minnesota has also discovered its passing game the past two weeks and if the team can keep that up, we’re looking at a legitimate title contender despite Cousins’ issues.

NFL Week 7 Prediction: Minnesota Vikings -2.5