Lions vs. Vikings Point Spread: NFL Week 16 Odds, Prediction
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Nik Kowalski
One way or another this game will be a tone-setter for when these teams again face off two weeks later in Detroit. If the 10-4 Lions win this Sunday, they will have clinched the NFC North and have their first division title since 1993. But a Minnesota win keeps the door open for the 7-7 Vikings to steal that title from Detroit.
The Lions are coming into Week 16 probably feeling like they re-found their swagger too, as they beat the wheels off of Denver last Saturday in a 42-17 win. Minnesota’s coming off a hard-fought overtime loss at Cincinnati last week as the Vikings moved forward with Nick Mullens under centre.
Kickoff at U.S. Bank Stadium gets started at 1 p.m. EST, with the Lions a -165 moneyline favourite and -3 on the point spread. The total’s at 46.5 on the NFL odds.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Vikings have been in a home field funk this season with two wins in six home games so far. Detroit’s been as good as they come on the road too, winning five of seven away from home. These teams’ overall records in these splits (Minnesota 2-4 at home, Detroit 5-2 away) also mirror their records against the spread.
Head-to-head, the Vikings have won nine of their last 11 meetings with Detroit but the Lions are 5-0 ATS in their last five contests. Detroit’s covered in 11 of their last 14 meetings with a divisional opponent too. But the Vikings own the best divisional record in the NFC North this season at 2-1 (Detroit’s 2-2).
Detroit Lions
Last week, Jared Goff became just the second quarterback this season to toss five touchdowns in a game. In doing so Goff and Lions relied on their young weapons in tight end Sam LaPorta and running back Jahmyr Gibbs. LaPorta was on the receiving end of three of those five touchdowns and is now the first rookie tight end ever with 70 catches, 700 yards, and seven touchdowns. Gibbs rushed for exactly 100 yards — his second 100-yard rushing game this year.
Detroit’s flexed their muscles all season as a top five scoring offence (27.3 points per game) that ranks second in rushing (140.9 yards per game). But last weekend was the first time since Week 8 where the Lions allowed fewer than 26 points.
Minnesota Vikings
For as automatic as some feel the Philadelphia “Tush Push” is, the Minnesota Vikings learned the hard way that it’s not necessarily the case. In overtime last week the Vikings failed to execute pushes on 3rd and 4th down and proceeded to lose without seeing the ball game.
But overall, Nick Mullens first start as a Viking was not too bad. Mullens reached over 300 passing yards and tossed two touchdowns, but also turned the ball over twice and had one of his touchdowns come via a “throw it up and pray” kind of pass. Mullens favourite target was rookie Jordan Addison, who finished with a team-high 111 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Justin Jefferson also returned to Minnesota’s lineup and had seven grabs for 84 yards. Ty Chandler filled in for an injured Alexander Mattison and had 157 total yards on 26 touches.
DET
MIN