[1:00 PM] Lions @ Vikings

Who will WIN this matchup?

Detroit Lions (4-4)

@ Minnesota Vikings (5-2)

 

Current odds:

Detroit Lions: (+230)

Minnesota Vikings: (-270)

 

• ESPN simulations have Detroit as XX% favorites to win the game.

• XX% of sports bets are currently on Minnesota to win as (TBD) favorites.

• The line for this game is Vikings by 6.5 points.

• The Minnesota Vikings were the talk of the league through the first month of the season, rattling off five consecutive wins and owning the only perfect record in the NFL. Then came the bye week and the Vikings haven’t been the same, dropping consecutive games on the road entering Sunday’s clash against the visiting Detroit Lions.

• Detroit’s defense absorbed a blow as pass-rushing outside linebacker Armonty Bryant received a three-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Bryant sat out the first four games of the season for a similar violation and was subsequently waived by Cleveland before he was picked up by Detroit. Bryant was productive in his brief stint with the Lions, recording three sacks in four games after collecting 5.5 in 14 games with the Browns last season. Quarterback Matthew Stafford has nine touchdowns and zero interceptions over the past four games and owns a career-best 103.4 passer rating.

• Bereft of a running game, quarterback Sam Bradford has been under siege in the losses at Philadelphia and Chicago, getting sacked a total of 11 times. There is the hope that things will change with the promotion of Shurmur, who was the offensive coordinator for both the Eagles and Rams when Bradford played for each team. Minnesota is ranked 31st in rushing at a paltry 71.9 yards per game, but its defense is permitting a league-low 14.9 points.

• Bradford is averaging 273 yards per game with five touchdowns and zero interceptions in four home games.

• Stafford was sacked seven times in the last meeting by Minnesota, which swept the season series a year ago.

• Vikings DE Everson Griffen has 7.5 sacks in the last seven meetings against Detroit.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Minnesota Vikings

Confidence: 5/10

Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Previous Pick
Next Pick