Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit Lions Prediction NFL Picks 1/5/25

-Recent Betting trends and streaks involving Minnesota

-Recent Betting trends and streaks involving Detroit

-Recent betting trends in games played between Minnesota and Detroit

-A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for Today’s Game between the Vikings and Lions.

Can the  Vikings Actually Do This?

People have continued to not give the Vikings a shot all season, and all they continue to do is just keep winning games. Coming into this game they have won nine games in a row and Sam Darnold is playing like someone who is an MVP candidate and he just keeps leading this Vikings offense to success. In the last game against the Green Bay Packers the Vikings offense scored 27 points and although they let the Packers back into the game, something they do a lot, they still picked up a victory. Darnold completed  33 of his 43 passes for 377 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. 

Justin Jefferson has fought through double teams all season and he caught eight passes for 92 yards. The Vikings are averaging 26.4 points while their defense is giving up 18.8 points per game. The offense is ranked 9th while the defense is ranked 4th. Darnold on the season has thrown for 4,143 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Darnold needs to have a huge game here. 

Can the Lions Play Enough Defense?

This Lions team knows how to really score, but this defense has been a problem and they are going to need the defense to be better this season. The Lions faced off against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night football and although they won, the defense didn’t look good, at all. The offense scored 40 points but the defense gave up 34 points. Quarterback Brock Purdy completed 26 of his 34 passes for 303 yards, and three touchdowns. Jahmyr Gibbs finished with 18 carries for 117 yards and a touchdown. The Lions on the season are averaging 33.3 points while their defense is giving up 20.8 points per game. The offense is ranked 1st in the league while the defense is ranked 9th. On 4th downs this season they are converting at a 68.9 percent clip which is 5th in the NFL. 

Why the Vikings Will Beat the Lions

• The Vikings have won each of their last eight Sunday games.
• The Vikings have covered the spread in each of their last four games.
• The Lions have failed to cover the spread in four of their last five games as home favorites against NFC North opponents.
• The Lions have lost the first quarter in four of their last six Sunday games as favorites.

Total Points Facts

• Each of the last six Sunday games between the Vikings and Lions has gone OVER the total points line.
• Each of the Vikings' last five games at Ford Field has gone OVER the total points line.
• Each of the last three Sunday games at Ford Field has gone OVER the total points line.

Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit Lions Prediction

The first time these two teams faced off this season the Vikings lost on a last-second field goal, but that isn’t going to happen here. This game is going to come down to the defense, and the Lions' defense just gave up 34 points to 49ers' offense that hasn’t been great this season. Justin Jefferson is going to cook against the Lions' defense, and you aren’t going to need the points here. The Vikings' offense is going to put up at least 35 points, and they will come out on top. Back the Vikings on the money line.