A crucial all-NFC North matchup is on tap on Week 9, as the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings lock horns in a game that has a big potential to dictate each team’s playoff chances. Check out our preview of this game below.
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Betting Preview for the Detroit Lions vs Minnesota Vikings Regular Season Week 9 Game on November 8, 2020
Where: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
When: Sunday, November 8, 2020, 1:00 PM ET
Line: Detroit Lions (+3.5) vs Minnesota Vikings (-3.5) – view all 2020 NFL lines
TV Broadcast: CBS
Betting on the Detroit Lions (+3.5)
Regular Season Record: 3-4
After beating non-playoff bound teams in the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Atlanta Falcons in their last two games, the Lions hit a wall in the form of the Indianapolis Colts in a 41-21 blowout loss at home last Sunday, thus showing Detroit that it’s still not quite up there to be taken seriously. There was barely anything on the ground for Detroit in that game, as the Lions came up with just 29 rushing yards on 13 carries, while Matthew Stafford was tortured in the pocket for three sacks for a loss of 39 yards. He finished with 336 passing yards and three touchdowns against an interception on 24-of-42 completions, which, taken as a whole, wasn’t really that impressive. However, the Lions can still make noise on Sunday against the Vikings, who are not known for their defense, either. Stafford should expect less pressure in the pocket, as Minnesota is only sporting a 5.26 defensive sack percentage, which is just 20th in the NFL. Last year, Stafford went 30-of-45 for 364 passing yards and four touchdowns with an interception while only getting sacked twice against Minnesota, albeit in a 42-30 home loss. Take note that wide receiver Kenny Golladay has been declared out for Week 9, so the Lions will not have their best downfield threat against Minnesota.
The Lions are 3-2 against the spread in their last five games overall.
Betting on the Minnesota Vikings (-3.5)
Regular Season Record: 2-5
The Vikings arguably pulled off the loudest upset win in Week 8, as they took down Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, 28-22, to rejuvenate their playoff hopes. The win was made possible the most by the legs of Dalvin Cook, who ran all over the Packers’ defense for 163 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries. He also led the Vikings in the passing attack with 63 receiving yards and a touchdown on two receptions. Clearly, Cook is healthy and way past the groin injury that sidelined him back in Week 6, before the team’s bye. Cook is unlikely to come up with that kind of performance two games in a row, but don’t count him out from having a field day against Detroit. For one, the Lions are just 23rd in the NFL with 130.0 rushing yards allowed per game. Last week, the Colts racked up 119 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries against Detroit. In the aforementioned Minnesota win over the Lions last season, Kirk Cousins threw for 338 yards (24/34) and four TDs without an interception, while Cook recorded 142 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries.
The Vikings are 6-3-1 against the spread in their last 10 home games against Detroit.
Writer’s Prediction
The Vikings win, 24-23.
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