Lions vs. Vikings Point Spread: NFL Week 3 Odds, Prediction
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Edgar Chaput
For the first time in a while, a game in which Detroit must go on the road to play a team that generally plays solid football at home is not so easy to predict. So far in 2022, the Vikings have experienced their typical ups and downs. By contrast, even though the Motor City-based team also sits at 1-1, there is a reason for optimism.
Nevertheless, the betting experts view Kevin O’Connell’s Vikings as the favourites, listing Minnesota as a 6-point favourite to win on the NFL odds. A high-scoring affair is also predicted, with the points total hovering at 53.5.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Over the past 10 confrontations, Minnesota has celebrated eight wins, an impressive record. Funnily enough, one of those two losses was last season in Detroit when the Lions snatched their first victory of the season after a nightmarish first few months. Many games have been decided by 10+ points, save the last 3, each of which saw the winning side score 2 more points than its opponent.
This is where things get very interesting. The Lions’ win-loss-tie record in 2021 was bad at 3-13-1. However, ATS they went 10-7. They lose outright a lot, but often manage to cover the spread. So far in 2022, they’re 2-0 ATS.
As for the Vikings, they were 9-8 ATS in 2021, which reflects how hot and cold they actually have been as a team for a few seasons. Guess what: 1-1 so far in 2022.
Detroit Lions
Without wanting to sound too disparaging, expectations are rarely very high in Detroit. But people seem to believe in what second-year coach Dan Campbell is trying to accomplish with his squad. As alluded to above, lots of games were incredibly close in 2021, and their start to the current campaign has been highly entertaining, if uneven.
The defence is giving up yards and points by the truckload (facing Jalen Hurts in Week 1 didn’t help), meaning you never know how safe or not a Lions lead is. On the flip side, through two games Detroit is smoking opponents when they have the ball. Their efficiency is thanks in large part due to the running game. Yes, Detroit has a running game. D’Andre Swift has been scintillating so far, averaging 5.6 and 11.2 yards per run in the first two games. If the defence can just spruce up a little bit, things could get serious.
Key Injuries: CB Amani Oruwariye (questionable), CB Ifeatu Melifonwu (questionable)
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings will do what the Vikings do. True to form, they played a terrific home game against the hated Packers, then promptly shrank under the bright Monday Night lights in Philadelphia, losing 24-7. A good defensive performance against an all-time legend in Aaron Rodgers, followed by a meek showing against up-and-coming Hurts. It’s the Minnesota way.
How much more ink can be spilled about QB Kirk Cousins’ performances in primetime games? He was 27-of-46 passing against the Eagles, finishing with 221 yards, one TD and three INTs. Yes, throwing 46 times had a lot to do with the fact that they went down early and by a lot, but Cousins is so unpredictable it seems amazing that O’Connell chose to largely forgo running the ball with the terrific Dalvin Cook (six carries).
Be that as it may, the reality is the Vikings are a good home team and a patently mediocre road team, and this Week 3 contest is in the comfort of their dome. Also, as previously stated, gaining yards and scoring against Detroit looks fairly easy so far in 2022.
Key Injuries: S Harrison Smith (questionable), CB Andrew Booth Jr. (questionable)
DET
MIN