Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions 2019: Prediction Against The Spread, Odds For NFC North Game

The Detroit Lions might be the most underrated team heading into Week 7 of the 2019 NFL season. It’s why they are a good bet as home underdogs against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday afternoon.

Minnesota is a one-point favorite in Detroit, according to the latest betting line at OddsShark. The over/under is 45.5.

The Lions are in the basement of the NFC North with a 2-2-1 record, putting them a game behind the Vikings. The standings don’t tell the entire story of Detroit’s start to the season.

A 23-22 loss at Lambeau Field Monday night dropped the Lions into last place. It looked like Detroit was headed for a big road win over the Green Bay Packers, which actually would’ve put them atop the division.

The Packers barely survived against the Lions, aided by a few questionable—that’s being kind—penalties and a last-second field goal. There’s a good chance that Detroit would’ve been favored in Week 7 had they beaten Green Bay.

Detroit’s only other loss came at home against the Kansas City Chiefs. That also included some bad luck, namely a Chiefs’ 100-yard fumble return for a touchdown. It took a late fourth-down conversion and a touchdown drive in the final minute for Patrick Mahomes and Co. to escape with a victory.

Mahomes had his lowest passer rating of the season against the Lions. Detroit has also faced Carson Wentz, Philip Rivers and Aaron Rodgers. The team ranks seventh in opponents’ passer rating.

Kirk Cousins was finally terrific against a good team in Week 6 when the Vikings routed the Philadelphia Eagles 38-20. Philadelphia has one of the league’s worst secondaries, as do the New York Giants, whom Cousins picked apart in Week 5.

Let’s see how the quarterback does on the road against a team that has consistently forced good signal callers to perform below their usual standard of play.

Matthew Stafford is largely playing mistake-free football. He’s thrown no interceptions in four of five games, failing to reach the 245-yard mark just once in this season.

The Vikings are much better at home than they are on the road. Minnesota is 3-0 at U.S. Bank Stadium in 2019 with six wins in their last seven home games. The Vikings have lost five of their last seven road games.

Minnesota’s defense will make this a close, low-scoring affair. Detroit won’t win if they have to keep settling for field goals the way they did in their last game.

Every Lions’ game has been decided by four points or fewer this season. Maybe Detroit will have a little luck go their way after the debacle in Green Bay.

Prediction: Detroit over Minnesota 16-13