The teams with the two best records in the NFC through six weeks of the NFL season will meet Sunday (1 p.m. ET, Fox) when the Detroit Lions (4-1) face the host Minnesota Vikings (5-0) with first place in the NFC North Division at stake.
The surprising Vikings, coming off a bye, opened the season with the longest odds in the division at +1100 and originally were +10000 (100-1) to win the Super Bowl. Now they are co-division choices along with Detroit at +140. Their NFL title odds are +1200 at many betting sites.
Minnesota is thriving behind QB Sam Darnold and a defense that leads the league in interceptions with 11 and averages four sacks a game, which is third best.
The Lions are coming off a 47-9 win at Dallas last Sunday in which QB Jared Goff guided the Lions to scores on their first nine drives of the game (disregarding a kneel-down before halftime).
Detroit, the league's highest-scoring team at 30.2 points per game, has Super Bowl odds of +1000 (Bet365).
Lions vs. Vikings odds for NFL Week 6: Point spread, moneyline, total
Detroit opened as 3-point favorite in Las Vegas last Sunday night, but the line flipped during early betting with Minnesota now a 1.5-point choice at online sportsbooks . Here are live Lions vs. Vikings odds:
At least one cause for the odds swing was that Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson, the league sack leader, fractured his tibia Sunday and was put on IR.
Against the spread, the Vikings have the only perfect mark in the league at 5-0. Detroit is 4-1 and since midway in the 2021 season is 37-14 ATS.
The over/under point total was 47 when first posted, but now stands at 50.5.
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Lions vs. Vikings trends to know
1. The Vikings not only are undefeated in the regular season but also had a perfect mark in preseason games.
The other five teams that were unbeaten this summer have a cumulative 12-18 record.
2. As mentioned in last week's Detroit-Dallas preview, teams coming off a bye the previous five seasons have gone 60-67-3 against the spread.
The well-rested Lions easily covered the spread in Dallas last week but the other three teams off byes were 1-2 ATS.
3. Since 2021, Detroit has won four of the past five meetings between the squads.
In each game, the teams totaled at least 50 points and went OVER the total.
Three things to watch: Vikings' pass defense fierce
1. The five starting QBs against Minnesota this season have had eight TD throws and 11 interceptions when facing the Vikings. In all the other games, those passers had a combined 38 scoring throws and 12 INTs.
This week, though, the Vikings will be facing the first enemy passer ranked inside the top 10. Goff is No. 6.
2. The Lions have four interceptions on plays in the red zone. Included were a pair of turnovers by Dallas' Dak Prescott inside the 10 last week. Darnold had better not get careless deep in Detroit territory.
3. There have been three occasions when a QB had a passer rating of 150 or higher in a game this season. Goff has had two of them -- both coming in his last two outings.
Lions vs. Vikings prop bets and first-time TD scorers
For bettors seeking more action on games besides who wins and by how much, plenty of options are available.
Here are some prop bet offerings from top sports betting apps including DraftKings, Bet365 and FanDuel. Caesars and BetMGM also have many choices.
First-time TD scorers (DraftKings)
- Vikings WR Justin Jefferson: +500
- Vikings RB Aaron Jones: +600
- Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown: +850
- Lions RB David Montgomery: +475
Passing yards (DraftKings)
- Lions QB Jared Goff 300+: +320
- Vikings QB Sam Darnold 300+: +270
Total TDs (FanDuel)
- Over 5.5: -134
- Under 5.5: +104
Alternate point totals (Bet365)
- Over 30.5: -2650
- Under 30.5: +950
- Over 70.5: +680
- Under 70.5: -1520
There have been five games in which the point total surpassed 70.5 this year.
Both teams to record a defensive sack (DraftKings)
Last week, seven teams failed to get a sack.
Lions vs. Vikings betting predictions: Skol! Minnesota to fluster Detroit
The loss of Hutchinson is a major blow to Detroit. After all, he's had half of the team's 15 sacks.
With both teams having strong running attacks and standout receivers, it likely will come down to quarterback play.
Goff certainly is having an outstanding season, but in the team's four victories it faced foes that rank in the bottom 10 in defensive passer rating. Minnesota's is tops. He could be in for a rough day.
Picks : Vikings -1.5, Under 50.5
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