Lions Vikings Betting – Young Lions Stumble In Minnesota
Sports betting players are likely falling over each other to get on the Detroit bandwagon as the Lions have looked very impressive over the first two weeks of the regular season, but they’re still a young team with plenty to learn, and they’ll get a lesson this week in Minnesota, where they’ll fail to end their Metrodome jinx against their NFC North rivals.
What: NFL Betting
When: Sunday, September 25th, 1:00 PM ET
Where: Mall of America Field at the HHH Metrodome, Minneapolis, MN
Pick: Minnesota Vikings +3.5
Why Bet On Detroit Lions (2-0 SU, 2-0 ATS)
The Lions put a 48-3 beating on Kansas City at home, and they beat the Chiefs from pillar to post from the beginning of the game. Matt Stafford was 23-of-39 for 294 yards, four touchdowns and a pick, spreading the ball around to seven different receivers, although he found Calvin Johnson twice in the end zone. Detroit scored on five of their six red-zone trips, put up 23 first downs (four of which came from penalties) and 411 yards of offense. The defense forced six turnovers and were constantly in the face of Matt Cassel, never taking their foot off the gas, which is what Detroit needs to move up the NFL betting ranks.
The negatives in this game for Detroit comes from the running game, both offensively (89 yards, 3.0 yards per carry) and defensively (151 yards, 5.2 yards per carry), and even though the NFL is now a passing league, you still have to be able to run the ball and stop the run. We’re still not sold on Jahvid Best as an every-down back yet, and the Lions have to improve that aspect of their offense as it would make the passing game even more dangerous. You would also think that the Lions would be a better run-stopping team with their strong front four, and that will be tested this weekend against the best running back in the league.
Why Bet On Minnesota Vikings (0-2 SU, 1-1 ATS)
The Vikings lost a 10-point lead in the last 6:39 of a 24-20 loss at home to Tampa Bay, and they’ll know that they gave one away because Minnesota actually played pretty well. Donovan McNabb followed up his embarrassing 39-yard performance from Week 1 with a solid day, going 18-of-30 for 228 yards and while he didn’t throw any touchdowns, he wasn’t picked off either. Adrian Peterson ran for 120 yards and a pair of scores for the Vikings, who converted five of their 11 third-down chances, as well as two of their four trips to the red zone. The Minnesota defense was doing fine until the last half of the final quarter, led by Antoine Winfield with 11 tackles.
But the fun stopped with seven minutes to go, when the Tampa Bay offense kicked into another gear and the Minnesota defense couldn’t counter. There was also some peculiar clock management by head coach Leslie Frazier, who chose not to use timeouts down the stretch, and he’ll probably go a different avenue if the situation arises this week. The Vikings may also need to replace corner Chris Cook, who has a groin problem, and an injured secondary is the last thing you need against Detroit. However, Minnesota will have defensive tackle Kevin Williams back in the lineup after he missed the first two games of the season because of a drug suspension.
How It Will Play Out
NFL betting odds have the Lions as a 3.5-point favorite on the road at the Metrodome, where they are 0-5 SU and 1-3-1 ATS in their last five trips to Minnesota, with three games going under the posted total. Overall, the Lions haven’t won in Minnesota since 1997, a span of 14 games, but this looks like their best chance to snap that skid.
Look for Minnesota to stage the upset this week as Peterson will run wild on the Lions, and that will allow the Vikings to keep Detroit’s offense off the field. There is no way they’re going to win a shootout with the Lions, so clock management is the best way they can go about this. The defense will also be eager to show that last week’s collapse is behind them and you have to remember, Detroit is still a young team and there will be some bumps in the road. Take Minnesota in your online betting picks.
Lions Vikings Betting Pick: Minnesota Vikings +3.5
