The Lions are 5.5-point favorite over Vikings

admin | January 2, 2024 | Other Clubs | No Comments

The Lions are the betting favorite in the regular season finale.

The 2023 season was one of the Detroit Lions’ numerous high points.

With one week remaining in the season, the Lions have already won 11 games and clinched the NFC North division title.

It’s been a welcome change of pace for a team that hadn’t won its division since 1993 previous to this season.

On Sunday, Detroit will play the Minnesota Vikings, a team that Dan Campbell’s team defeated just two weeks ago to win the NFC North division title.

According to SI Sportsbook, the Lions are 5.5-point favorites in the Week 18 showdown at Ford Field, which kicks off at 1 p.m.

The Vikings (7-9) enter this week having lost three straight games and are coming off their worst loss of 2023.

The Green Bay Packers defeated them 33-10 at home on New Year’s Eve. Minnesota suffered its first double-digit defeat of the season.

Although Minnesota is two games under.500 heading into the last week of the regular season, it still has a chance to make the playoffs. According to The New York Times, Kevin O’Connell’s club has a 3% chance of securing a wild card position.

Campbell & Co. won the first encounter between the Vikings and the Lions in ’23 by just six points, 30-24.

And, into the fourth quarter of the Week 16 game, Detroit led by just two points, 23-21. Jahmyr Gibbs’ rushing touchdown early in the fourth quarter put the Lions up 30 points.

Detroit won the time of possession in the aforementioned Christmas Eve game, 38:22 to 21:38. It also sacked Minnesota quarterback Nick Mullens four times and held the Vikings to just 17 yards rushing. In the divisional game, Mullens also threw four interceptions.

Mullens was benched in favor of rookie quarterback Jaren Hall for Minnesota’s Week 17 game against Green Bay following his troubles against the Lions.

However, Hall, a BYU product, struggled against the Packers (five-for-10 with an interception) and was benched after two quarters. Mullens replaced Hall and did not fare any better. He completed 13-of-22 throws for 113 yards and concluded the game with a paltry 13.7 QBR.

As Week 18 approaches, O’Connell has yet to decide who will start as quarterback.

Regardless, the Lions have a strong chance to finish the season with their 12th victory.

Tags:Detroit Lions