Detroit Lions vs Minnesota Vikings
Metrodome – Minneapolis, Minnesota
Sunday September 25 – 1:00PM
Moneyline:
Spread (ATS): Detroit -4
Over/Under: 45
Odds courtesy of 5DimesDetroitWow, what a performance by the Lions last week. Their hype machine was already humming but when you throttle a team like they did the Chiefs there was no choice for the media to crank it up a notch. After a brief respite at home they are back on the road to face Minnesota, a familiar opponent in an unfamiliar spot against the Lions – home underdog.
The one thing I would like to see Detroit do before I swallow the Kool-Aid is run the ball better. I love their offensive weapons and as long as QB Matthew Stafford is healthy they have a chance to compete with anybody. Their defense is really taking shape although their performance against Kansas City may be hard to repeat with regularity. This is not a smokescreen, the Lions are definitely a team on the come.
The line on this one has already gone up a half point to -4 on the Detroit side. Odds are it will continue to move until kickoff and I would definitely be willing to bet into it until at least -6.5. The Lions will lose eventually but the way they exceeded even last week’s loft expectations indicated this year’s club are the same old Detroit Lions. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Minnesota
The Vikings are in a very precarious position right now. At 0-2, especially in the NFC Central, their chances of making the playoffs this year are slim. They are expected to lose on Sunday and when I look at their schedule I am not sure who they can feel confident beating. This is surprising given that they still have Adrian Peterson and added Donovan McNabb in the offseason.
Against San Diego they were dominated and against Tampa they dominated, for a half. It is disappointing that a team like Minnesota wilted the way they did in the second half at home. It was the kind of performance that makes you think things might get worse before they get better…leading to the beginning of the Christian Ponder era.
This could be a real changing of the guard game for these two teams. Minnesota has won 13 straight home games against Detroit – a fact you can be sure the Lions staff are using as motivation. Last year these teams also met in week three a 24-10 victory by the Vikings at home where Adrian Peterson went off for a season high 160 yards. They are going to need some of that and then some to keep their streak going this week.
ATS Pick: Detroit -4
Over/Under Pick: Over
Score Prediction: Detroit 31 – Minnesota 21
