Vikings vs Lions Prediction, Pick | NFL Week 18 Odds
My Vikings vs Lions prediction & pick is on the spread, which has the Lions favored by four points. The over/under has moved up to 47 on Sunday morning.
The Lions have already secured the NFC North, but two of their division rivals — the Packers and Vikings — still have hopes. Also, the Lions have a shot at the second seed in the NFC, but that would require some truly wild things to happen: the Commanders upsetting the Cowboys and the Giants defeating the floundering Eagles. Detroit, of course, also has to win.
For the Vikings to make the playoffs, they need to win and hope Green Bay, Seattle and Tampa Bay each lose. A New Orleans defeat (instead of Tampa Bay) would also work for Minnesota.
Vikings vs Lions Prediction, Pick
Vikings vs Lions Odds
| Vikings Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
+4 -110 | 47 -110o / -110u | +175 |
| Lions Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
-4 -110 | 47 -110o / -110u | -210 |
Vikings vs. Lions Preview
The Lions come into this one on the back of a narrow 20-19 defeat to the Cowboys. With an 11-5 record, they've long wrapped up the NFC North.
That raises the big question of whether the Lions will play their starters. Thankfully, Dan Campbell has answered that and has said that he will play his first stringers and use last week's refereeing debacle as "fuel". It's always tough to know what is coach speak in moments like this, but Campbell is arguably the league's biggest straight shooter.
That means we should see no limitations on a Lions offense that ranks fifth in offensive DVOA. Jameson Williams is the only big name out, which isn't really a big deal considering Detroit features one of the league's best running back tandems, plus a pissed-off Amon-Ra St. Brown and rookie standout Sam LaPorta.
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The Vikings know what they need to do to make the playoffs — after that, it's a matter of just hoping that other results fall their way.
They've lost three straight games and five of six overall. In fact, their last win was a truly abysmal showing against the Raiders that they managed to win by the score of 3-0.
The outlook has looked bleak since Kirk Cousins hit IR and they've been severely hampered by bad quarterback play. Nick Mullens is the current starter, but in four games, he's thrown more picks than touchdown passes (6:5) and has yet to have a QB Rating of at least 100.
Superstar Justin Jefferson was heralded as a spark who could ignite Minnesota's playoff push, but despite some good performances and a lot of targets, he's only found the end zone once.
A Vikings win will need to be led by an underrated defense that ranks eighth in DVOA.
Vikings vs. Lions Pick & Prediction
I really can't look past the Lions covering. While they are far from perfect, they have one of the NFL's most explosive offenses, capable of blowing away any team.
We saw the Lions win by six points in Minnesota just two weeks ago, so why are they now favored by less on their home field?
Dan Campbell has been clear about playing starters and if he's a man of his word, which he certainly appears to be, then Lions -3 is the play. Since Campbell became Lions head coach in 2021, they are 34-16 ATS, the best in the league in that timeframe.
