Sports One of many most impactful video games of the 2024 NFL campaign kicks off Sunday evening in the Motor City, because the 14-2 Detroit Lions host the 14-2 Minnesota Vikings with the NFC’s No. 1 total seed hanging in the steadiness.
The storyline is so goal that the league flexed the game to primetime.
DraftKings Sportsbook opened Detroit as a 3-level well-liked with a total of [O/U] 51, because the Lions and San Francisco 49ers beget been flying up the discipline this past Monday evening. The total has rocketed even better as of Friday.
There’s now a 56.5 available in the market, the supreme total all season.
“Fair an unheard of game,” reliable bettor Adam Chernoff told FOX Sports activities.
“Can the Lions pick up stops? That’s totally the supreme ask. The 49ers beget been getting whatever they wanted on offense [Monday] nonetheless turnovers bailed out the Lions. It’s been like that the final couple weeks.
“About a of the condo they’re conceding in the secondary is admirable, nonetheless it surely is permitting groups to search out quite a lot of condo on the assist conclude. Minnesota has been in a position to draw up and pick up guys huge initiate for Sam Darnold all season.
“Detroit is certain to play man protection at the assist of a movement proceed that’s been far less efficient than it turned into earlier in the year when every person turned into healthy. So, can the Lions develop ample in the secondary in distinction Minnesota offense?
“That’s the critical.”
Every head coaches — Detroit’s Dan Campbell and Minnesota’s Kevin O’Connell — are smartly-liked decisions for NFL Coach of the Year and every males beget shown the propensity to be barely aggressive offensively on fourth down.
Perchance Campbell will roll the cube on fourth-and-1 from his gain 20.
Hit me.
“I impress Dan Campbell is a elaborate coach who bites knee caps,” FOX Sports activities making a wager analyst Geoff Schwartz mentioned on this week’s “Get Bets.” “Nonetheless I didn’t just like the arrangement he handled [his starters] Monday evening.
“He’s mighty smarter than that. He does heavenly football things internal video games. Nonetheless the arrangement they handled [the San Francisco game] turned into now no longer very heavenly. I belief the excuses he gave beget been somewhat ludicrous.
“I feel this may occasionally beget an affect on them on Sunday.”
Vikings vs. Lions: Who wins this historical game? On the different side, Minnesota’s protection is metrically impressive, nonetheless there are some doubts about what the Vikings can develop in opposition to elite assaults.
Excessive-octane offense tends to trump solid protection in the intervening time and the Lions did rack up 391 yards of total offense in the foremost assembly, a 31-29 victory for Detroit in the Twin Cities. Lions’ kicker Jake Bates sealed the take care of a 44-yard discipline draw with 19 seconds left to head in regulation.
“Detroit’s offense has gotten whatever it’s wanted all season,” Chernoff persisted. “This Minnesota protection, I feel, is a dinky bit bit phony supreme on memoir of they’ve completed with the lead greater than any other crew, which has made their chase protection peek a lot better than it is.
“Dan Campbell has been very aggressive taking the ball to initiate up video games to try to create the lead to permit them to play from forward and lean on that chase game. That’s paramount. Per chance we note a dinky bit bit more willingness to gamble from [Vikings defense coordinator] Brian Flores to try to select up off the discipline.”
Prepare for the fireworks reveal.
I gained’t assemble many Week 18 wagers due to the a slew of backup quarterbacks getting begins and a handful of video games where it’s practically inconceivable to handicap the goal motivation. That mentioned, I did wager some Vikings +3 -110.
Their offense is in actuality humming due to the ultimate quarterback play from Darnold and I feel Minnesota wins more battles in opposition to Detroit’s protection.
SkoL.
Sam Panayotovich is a sports making a wager analyst for FOX Sports activities and BetQL Community. He beforehand labored for WGN Radio, NBC Sports activities and VSiN. Notice him on Twitter @ spshoot .
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