Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions, 12/21/18 NFL Predictions & Preview

Vikings vs. Lions Total Prediction

Will the Detroit Lions have another low-scoring football game at home when they play host to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at 1PM ET?

Game Snapshot & Odds

115 Minnesota Vikings at 116 Detroit Lions

Sunday, December 23, 2018

1PM ET – Ford Field

TV: FOX

Public Betting Trends

According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, the Vikings are favored on the road, as they are getting odds of -6 points against the Lions. The over/under total for the game is listed at 42.5 points. The public betting for this game currently has 63 percent going on the Vikings on the road.

Vikings still in playoff hunt

The Vikings kept their playoff chances going with a 41-17 win over the Miami Dolphins last weekend at home. Minnesota is 7-6-1 on the season, 2-4-1 on the road, 7-6-1 against the spread and 8-6 with the under. The Vikings have hit the under in five of their last seven games.

Minnesota has one of the top defenses in the NFL. The Vikings are giving up just 22 points per game while holding opponents to 314.3 yards per contest. Their pass defense is also quite strong, allowing only 202.9 yards per game. Danielle Hunter is leading the unit with 66 tackles and 14.5 sacks. Offensively, Minnesota is putting up 23.1 points and 358.9 yards per game. Their rushing offense ranks 29^th in the league with just 95 yards per game. Kirk Cousins has thrown for 3,913 yards and 26 touchdowns this season with 10 interceptions. Adam Thielen is his leading receiver with 105 catches for 1,255 yards and nine touchdowns.

Lions out of the mix

The Detroit Lions are officially out of the playoff mix following a 14-13 loss at Buffalo last weekend. The Lions are 5-9 on the season, 3-4 at home, 8-6 against the spread and 8-6 with the under. Detroit has hit the under in five straight games.

The Lions rank in the bottom third of the NFL in offense, averaging just 20.3 points and 329.4 yards per game. Their defense has been somewhat solid throughout the year, allowing just 23.8 points and 346.1 yards per game. The team is riddled with injuries as the likes of RB Kerryon Johnson, DE Ezekiel Ansah, WR Marvin Jones and others are all on IR. Quarterback Matthew Stafford is also dealing with a back injury, but is expect to play as of now. He has thrown for 3,395 yards and 19 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. He has been sacked 37 times. Kenny Golladay has caught 64 passes for 1,005 yards and five touchdowns. Darius Slay was named to the Pro Bowl this week. He has 15 pass deflections and three interceptions.

NFL Betting Trends

Minnesota

The Vikings have hit the under in five of their last six against a losing team and in 20 of their last 27 division games.

Detroit

The Lions have hit the under in four straight home games and in six of their last seven in December.

Prediction:

Minnesota earned a 24-9 win over the Lions at home back on Nov. 4, racking up 10 sacks in the win. The Detroit O-line is weaker than that unit was back then, so it could be another long day for Stafford. The Detroit offense doesn’t seem to be trying to move down the field much, settling for very short passes and failed rushing attempts. The Detroit defense is still playing pretty well, so I would expect them to challenge Minnesota at home. Look for this game to be very low scoring again.

NFL Prediction: Vikings/Lions Under 42.5