NFL Betting Preview: Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings

Added on Sep 25, 2010 by Jack Thurman in

NFL

A couple of 0-2 teams go at it in Minneapolis as the Minnesota Vikings host the Detroit Lions. The fact that Detroit is 0-2 isn’t a big surprise, but Minnesota had big expectations for this season despite some injuries to their wide receivers and this game all of a sudden becomes very important. Brett Favre has already started moaning, and if the team is to have any hopes of a strong playoff run they need to turn things around quickly.

Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings
September 26, 2010–10:00 AM Pacific

In a different set of circumstances this would have been a good spot to take the improving Lions getting a ton of points. With the Vikings opening the season 0-2, however, it becomes a ‘do or die’ game for the home team and one that sets up perfectly to get the offense–particularly the passing game–back on track. There’s a lot to like about Detroit in most situations–the public hates them so you’re getting line value simply by backing them. The team is improving in certain areas, most significantly the defensive line. That’s why they’re 2-0 ATS this year. Still, they don’t have a good secondary and Favre has a quick release that will make it difficult for them to put too much pressure on ‘The Gunslinger’.

Minnesota was a -17 point favorite last year when these teams met in Minneapolis, and ended up winning by that margin in a pointspread ‘push’. The Vikings have regressed, Detroit has improved but the salient difference in this matchup is focus–the Lions weren’t a ‘big game’ last season but now find themselves in a position where Minny’s entire season is resting on the outcome of this game. Detroit hasn’t been a very good conference investment in the last three years (though they are 2-0 in that spot this year) with a 9-16 ATS record. Wrong place at the wrong time against the wrong team. Vikings win in a blowout.

Bet Minnesota -13 over Detroit