The Minnesota Vikings (6-0) and Detroit Lions (4-2) face off in one of the premier games of NFL Week 8. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. ET from Ford Field in Detroit, Mich. The game will broadcast live on FOX.
The Lions are 3.5-point favorites over the Lions on the spread, with the over/under set at 46.5 points. Detroit is a -174 moneyline favorite to win Minnesota is a +146 underdog.
Let's get into my Vikings vs Lions predictions and NFL picks for Sunday, November 1.
Vikings vs Lions Prediction
- Vikings vs Lions pick: Vikings Moneyline (+144)
My Vikings vs. Lions best bet is Minnesota moneyline (+144), with the best price currently available at FanDuel. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NFL odds page.
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Vikings vs Lions Odds
| Vikings Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3.5 -122 | 46.5 -102o / -120u | +146 |
| Lions Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3.5 +100 | 46.5 -102o / -120u | -174 |
- Vikings vs Lions Spread: Vikings +3.5 (-122), Lions -3.5 (+100)
- Vikings vs Lions Moneyline: Vikings +146, Lions -174
- Vikings vs Lions Total: 46.5
Vikings vs Lions NFL Week 8 Preview
Minnesota Vikings Betting Preview: Offense Continues to Lag
The Vikings are undefeated, but they have been extremely lucky.
Minnesota is 4-0 in one-possession games with wins over the Colts, Dolphins, and Saints. According to our NFL Luck Rankings, the Vikings are the third-luckiest team in the league entering Week 8, with 4.7 expected wins against their 6-0 record.
The trepidation with the Vikings centers on their offense, which ranks 30th in EPA per play and 32nd in Success Rate. I was expecting them to do make something of a leap coming off their bye against an injured Colts defense — Minnesota still couldn't move the ball.
Kyler Murray continued to look out of sync in the offense, going just 14-for-24 through the air for 150 yards and a touchdown.
But in this specific matchup, defensive coordinator Brian Flores is the ultimate equalizer. Minnesota leads the NFL with a 70% blitz rate.
Against Detroit specifically, Flores will send two rushers right into Jahmyr Gibbs' gap to force the explosive back to stay in and block.
Detroit Lions Betting Preview: Can Goff Win Chess Match?
The Lions offense has been highly efficient this season, and a lot of that is thanks to Jared Goff, who enters this game with a squeaky clean 14:0 TD:INT ratio.
Notable for this matchup against the Vikings is that Goff has been excellent against pressure. When blitzed, he ranks first in EPA per dropback; he has an 83% adjusted completion percentage with eight touchdowns and his pressure-to-sack rate is a minuscule 12%.
However, dealing with a standard blitz and dealing with Brian Flores' pressure are two completely different things.
Last year, without Ben Johnson calling the plays, Flores absolutely battered Goff. In their Week 9 matchup, the Vikings logged five sacks, 11 quarterback hits, and 20 pressures. In their Christmas game, Goff was again sacked five times and endured eight QB hits.
On the other side of the ball, getting Brian Branch back is huge for this Lions defense. Since Week 3, Detroit's blitz rate has fallen to around 20%, which is smart because it was getting burned when bringing extra rushers early in the year.
Vikings vs Lions Prediction, Betting Analysis
The spot favors the Lions, but this is a pure variance play backing Brian Flores as a road underdog.
Let's see what the mad scientist dials up against a divisional rival he's had success against in the past.
I'll back the undefeated Vikings to win this game outright.
Pick: Vikings Moneyline (+144)
