Vikings
vs.
Lions
Week 12
NFL Pick
11/23/17
By: Jason Green
Minnesota Vikings (8-2 SU 7-3 ATS) vs. Detroit Lions (6-4 SU 5-4-1 ATS)
The Vikings got a big win over the L.A. Rams in their last Game and they are in control of the NFC North with a two Game lead over the Lions. They have won six straight overall and if they win this Game on Thanksgiving they will be very hard to catch not having to face the Lions again and the Packers reeling without Aaron Rodgers. Minnesota has gotten solid QB play from Case Keenum and their D ranks 4th in the league only allowing an average of 17.2 ppg.
At 5 dimes sportsbook the Vikings are 2.5-point favorites with a total of 44.5.
The Lions have won three in a row and were a little lucky in their last Game, as the Chicago Bears missed a late FG that would have sent the Game to overtime. After this Game they do not face one team that currently has a winning record. Detroit has not run the ball well and their D has not been great, but Matthew Stafford leads an offense that ranks 5th in the league in ppg.
Earlier this season in Minnesota the Lions beat the Vikings 14-7.
The road team has covered the spread in five of the last seven Games between these teams.
In their last Game the Vikings were at home and put up a great defensive performance in beating the L.A. Rams 24-7. They outGAined the Rams 451 yards to 254 yards, held them scoreless in the 2nd half and totally stuffed the run. Cake Keenum passed for 280 yards with 1 TD and no INT and Adam Thielen, who ranks 2nd in the league in receiving yards, led the way with 123 receiving yards and a TD. Minnesota also rushed for 171 yards with LAtavius Murray having 95 of them and he averaged a legit 6.3 yards per carry.
While the Vikings have a solid defense they did give up 30 points in their last road Game even though they got the W. They will be facing a Lions pass D that ranks 20th in the league and a run D that ranks 18th.
The Lions beat the Chicago Bears 27-24 in their last Game where they scored 21 of their points in the 2nd quarter. Detroit had fewer yards in the Game (398-352) and they had most of their yards in the air and GAve up 222 rushing yards. Stafford passed for 299 yards with 2 TD and no INT and Marvin Jones Jr. led Four players with at least 49 receiving yards with 85 of them and also had a TD. The Lions only rushed for 65 yards on the Game with Theo Riddick leading the way with only 35 yards on the ground.
Minnesota has a balanced defense that ranks 11th against the pass and 2nd against the run.
The Vikings are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 road Games, 2-6 ATS in their last 8 Games against the NFC North, and in their last 9 Games against a team with a winning home record the Under record is 8-1.
The Lions are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 home Games, 2-7 ATS in their last 9 Games facing a team with a winning record, and in their last 6 Games the Over record is 5-1.
Jason’s Pick: The Lions were not overly impressive in their last Game and in their last two Games they have given up 24 points in each to the Browns and Bears. The Vikings are red-hot and they will stay that way with a W in this Game, They will use a balanced offensive attack and play good defense and they will win their 7th in a row and really take control of the NFC North.