Week 18 offers one of the best rivalries in pro football for a high-stakes final regular season game of the year. The Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings have shared the same division since the Purple Gang entered the NFL as a 1961 expansion team. In the early days, their division was referred to as the Black and Blue Division due to its physicality, brutal weather, and Neanderthal tactics. These days, Minnesota and Detroit comfortably play indoors and feature prolific offenses. On Sunday night, Both of these 14-2 teams will clash for the top seed and home field advantage in the NFC playoffs.
The Vikings and Lions Week 18 showdown is the NBC Sunday night matchup.
Minnesota is one of the biggest betting on pro football using crypto surprises and values in the 2024 season. Detroit has maintained a solid level of profitability despite its increased popularity with the casual sector.
On Sunday, January 5, 2025, the Detroit Lions will host the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field in Detroit, MI. Kickoff time is set for 8:20 p.m. ET, and television coverage will be on NBC.
NFL Betting Lines
Vikings at Lions Betting Lines
Minnesota Vikings +2.5/+124
Detroit Lions -2.5/-148
Total 52
Minnesota Vikings Team Overview
Last game, the Minnesota Vikings won 27-25 against the Green Bay Packers as 1-point home favorites. The game went over the total of 49. Minnesota has a record of 14-2 straight up, 11-4-1 against the spread, and 7-9 over/under the total. Minnesota ranks 7th for total offense, 3rd for passing, 16th for rushing and 9th for scoring. Defensively they rank 23rd overall, 32nd against the pass, 2nd against the rush, and 4th for points allowed. Also, Minnesota ranks 19th for fewest turnovers lost and 1st for takeaways.
For the second time in as many meetings with the Packers this season, the Vikings built a big lead and then hung on by the skin of their teeth at the very end. Minnesota led 27-10 and was driving in the fourth quarter on Sunday, but a missed Will Reichard field goal and a pair of Green Bay touchdowns made it a tense two-point game in the final minutes.
Fortunately, the Vikings found a way to make one final play when they needed it. Facing a third and two after the two-minute warning, Sam Darnold lobbed a short pass to Cam Akers, who adjusted and made a great catch to move the chains and secure Minnesota's ninth consecutive victory. The 27-25 win sends them to 14-2 on the season.
Sam Darnold continued one of the best quarterback seasons in Vikings history, throwing three touchdown passes in another gem of a performance. Darnold completed 33 of 43 passes for 377 yards, three scores, and one interception. He finished with a passer rating above 100 — it was 116.1 in this one — for the 13th time in 16 games, becoming just the fourth quarterback in NFL history to reach that mark 13 times in a season.
The Minnesota Vikings football team is one of the most profitable teams on the board in 2024.
Detroit Lions Team Overview
Last game, the Detroit Lions won 40-34 against the San Francisco 49ers as 3.5-point road favorites. The game went over the total of 50.5. Detroit has a record of 14-2 straight up, 10-5 against the spread, and 8-6-1 over/under the total. Detroit ranks 2nd for total offense, 2nd for passing, 7th for rushing and 1st for scoring. Defensively they rank 20th overall, 30th against the pass, 3rd against the rush, and 9th for points allowed. Also, Detroit ranks 4th for fewest turnovers lost and 4th for takeaways.
The Detroit Lions football team has become one of the most popular brands on the board. Yet that casual sector support has not hurt its profitability.
Vikings at Lions Same Game Parlay Picks
In this situation, Detroit will have an overflow crowd that is wired for sound. The Vikings lost at home to Detroit 31-29 on October 20 and now must step into the Lions’ Den and one of the NFL’s most hostile environments.
Detroit Lions -2.5
Minnesota/Detroit Under 52
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