We have an NFC North battle on Sunday at Ford Field, where the 5-2 Detroit Lions host the 3-4 Minnesota Vikings.
The Lions have dominated this rivalry in recent years, going 5-0 straight up and against the spread in the last five meetings.
My Vikings vs. Lions predictions call for another dominant win by Detroit, powered by its highly efficient offense.
Read more in my NFL picks for November 2.
Our best Vikings vs Lions SGP for Week 9
The Detroit Lions are third in the league in scoring (30.7 ppg) this year while ranking seventh in EPA/play.
They perform even better at home and should move the ball effectively against a Minnesota Vikings defense that has been exposed lately. The Vikes surrendered 419 yards and 37 points to the Chargers last week, while Jalen Hurts threw for 326 yards against them the week before.
The core of Detroit's offense has been together for years, and they know how to handle this blitz-heavy Brian Flores defense. They've scored more than 30 points in their last five meetings, and they should hit that mark again.
Expect Lions QB Jared Goff to rely on quick passes to beat the blitz. That means plenty of targets for No. 1 WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, who thrives on quick slants and underneath routes. The Pro Bowl receiver has racked up more than 100 yards in three of his last four games against Minnesota.
Since I'm betting on Detroit's offense to have a big game, it also makes sense to back Jahmyr Gibbs to score a touchdown. The star running back has punched the ball into the endzone in 16 of his last 20 games.
Not only do I love the Over on the Lions team total, but I also like them on the spread. Detroit leads the league in defensive DVOA and should feast against first-year starting QB J.J. McCarthy, who returns after a six-week absence.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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