Prediction 1
Detroit (+6) to cover vs. Minnesota Spread
(-113)
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Prediction 2
Amon-Ra St. Brown anytime TD vs. MIN Prop bet
(+105)
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Lions vs. Vikings Week 3 matchup preview and current betting lines
Detroit (1-1) travels to Minnesota (1-1) for a division battle as it hopes to string together a couple of wins after beating Washington 36-27 last week. The Vikings will attempt to get back to winning ways after an embarrassing 24-7 loss against Philadelphia.
Jared Goff played well in the victory over the Commanders, going 20-of-34 for 256 yards and four touchdowns (121.7 passer rating). The Lions triumph puts them two wins shy of matching their total from last season when the team went 3-13-1. It looks like they’ll easily beat that record.
Amon-Ra St. Brown torched the Washington secondary for 116 yards on nine receptions along with two scores. The second-year receiver also added 68 yards on the ground with two carries.
The Lions were dominant in the win over Washington. After going up three points with 8:06 left in the first quarter, the team continued to lead for the remainder of the game. Washington cut the lead to nine points late in the fourth quarter with 1:56 remaining, but a missed extra point from Joey Slye prevented Washington from making it a one-score game.
Minnesota struggled against Philadelphia primarily because of Kirk Cousins’ three interceptions. The former Michigan State Spartan ended the night with an awful 51.5 passer rating. The Vikings tried to make it competitive but Cousins threw a red zone interception in the fourth quarter to Darius Slay.
The current moneyline odds for this game on BetRivers are Detroit (+195) vs. Minnesota (-250). Minnesota are 6-point favorites on the spread at -108 odds.
Players to watch in the Detroit vs. Minnesota contest
Detroit
De’Andre Swift: The electric running back has been dangerous on the ground and through the air. Swift has 200 yards rushing through two games with an average of 10 yards per carry. The Georgia product is averaging 12.4 yards per reception and has two total touchdowns.
Minnesota
Dalvin Cook: The Vikings’ versatile running back hasn’t been productive this season. Through two games, the 27-year-old has 107 rushing yards, is averaging 4.1 yards per carry and hasn’t reached the end zone. Last season, Cook ran for 1,159 yards and averaged 4.7 yards per carry with six touchdowns.
Our NFL bet of the week for the Lions vs. Vikings
ESTNN is giving bettors two free picks for this game.
Detroit vs Minnesota Spread: Detroit +6 @ -113
Detroit’s offense is firing on all cylinders. The Lions are tied for second in points per game (35.5) with the Chiefs and sit only behind the Bills (36). The unit is fourth in the league for total offense with 405.5 yards per game.
Minnesota is 29th in total defense, allowing 412 yards per contest. This game looks like it’ll be a shootout and if they can’t corral Detroit’s weapons it could be a long day for the Vikings. Detroit ranks 20th in the NFL in total defense.
Justin Jefferson looks to explode again as he did in week one against Green Bay when he posted nine catches for 184 yards and two touchdowns. Jefferson struggled against Slay (intercepted Cousins twice) in the loss to Philadelphia and only had six catches for 48 yards.
It’ll be an interesting matchup against Lions cornerback Jeff Okudah. The 23-year-old was selected third overall in the 2020 draft to be the cornerstone of the defense. This season, Okudah has allowed only seven completions for 63 yards. None of the catches went for more than 17 yards while Okudah lined up across from Terry McLaurin and Devonta Smith in the previous two matchups.
Okudah isn’t the only defender playing well for Detroit. No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 draft, defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, broke out against Washington with three sacks.
Detroit is 3-2 vs the spread in its last five road games. In the two meetings between the two teams last year, each game was separated by only two points: 19-17 in favor of Minnesota and 29-27 with the Lions winning. At ESTNN we believe the Lions will cover the six-point spread offered on BetRivers.
Lions vs. Vikings odds: Amon-Ra St. Brown anytime TD scorer @ +105
The Lions slot receiver has found the end zone three times in two games and scored in each contest. St. Brown has broken the plane in eight of his last nine games dating back to Dec. 5, 2021.
The USC product has four red zone targets this season and 24 total targets on the year. Brown has 180 yards on 17 catches this season and his breakaway speed gives him opportunities to score points.
Lions’ offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has also used the receiver in the backfield. Against Minnesota’s poor defense its likely Brown will score a touchdown. The +105 odds provided by FanDuel are certainly a bargain worth betting on.
If you’re interested in learning about more prop bets for week 1, read our NFL player props page.
Frequently asked questions regarding Detroit vs. Minnesota in week 3
No, neither team has lifted the Lombardi Trophy. Minnesota has appeared in four Super Bowls and Detroit has never reached the big game.
If you’re interested in viewing other game lines, read our NFL Odds for this week page for more information.
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