Lions vs. Vikings Picks, Predictions NFL Week 3: Early NFC North Battle Rages On
A pair of NFC North foes are set to face off as the Detroit Lions look to keep their revamped offense rolling against the Minnesota Vikings. Here are our top picks as the 1-1 Vikings host the 1-1 Lions in Week 3.
What a start it has been for Lions head coach Dan Campbell and his much-improved squad. It may be early, but there’s a lot to like about a Detroit team that is averaging 35.5 points per game, a stark contrast from the 19.1 points per game the Lions averaged last season.
The Vikings probably felt just as optimistic after a convincing 23-7 win over the Green Bay Packers in Week 1, but a 24-7 Week 2 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in primetime has certainly helped keep expectations in check. Which version of the Vikings will we see in Week 3?
Here are our top Lions-Vikings NFL picks for Week 3 (odds via DraftKings Sportsbook and BetRivers; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
Lions vs. Vikings Game Info
Date: Sunday, Sept. 25, 1 p.m. ET
TV: FOX
Location: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
Weather: 66 degrees, 7% chance of precipitation, 12-mph winds
Lions vs. Vikings Odds Analysis
The Over/Under opened at 50 before moderately rising to its current total of 52.5 as of Thursday afternoon, with 59% of the tickets and 70% of the cash banking on the Over.
The Vikings opened as 8-point favorites, but the spread has since slipped to -6.
Lions vs. Vikings Picks
- Lions ML (+215 via BetRivers) ★★★★
- Under 52.5 (-110 via DraftKings) ★★★★
- Amon-Ra St. Brown Over 70.5 receiving yards (-120 via DraftKings) ★★★★★
Lions vs. Vikings ML Pick
Lions (+215) ★★★★
This matchup should be a lot closer than the current lines are insinuating. The Vikings have been the much better team in recent seasons and remain that way on paper, but their play through two games has also created a lot more questions than answers.
The skill gap between Minnesota and Detroit was much wider last season as well, yet the Vikings greatly struggled in their head-to-head matchups. They went 1-1 in the 2021 season series with the Lions, including a 19-17 win at home and a 29-27 loss on the road.
This year, the Lions put up 35 points against an Eagles team that held the Vikings to just seven points the very next week. Minnesota could barely hang with Detroit last season, and this year’s Lions squad is much tougher on both offense and defense.
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Lions vs. Vikings O/U Pick
Under 52.5 (-110) ★★★★
The total keeps edging higher as the week progresses, and there’s very little to suggest why. At this point, the Lions and Vikings would have to combine for at least seven touchdowns and two field goals for the Over to hit.
This game won’t necessarily be low scoring, but 52.5 is a high total. Especially when you consider that the Vikings have only three touchdowns through two games so far, all through the air. Their running game has been seemingly nonexistent for whatever reason, and that would have to change in a big way for this game’s total to approach the Over.
Lions vs. Vikings Prop Pick
St. Brown Over 70.5 receiving yards (-110) ★★★★★
What an absolutely incredible run it has been for Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown over the last eight games. Dating back to Week 12 of last season, the 22-year-old wideout has made at least eight receptions per game, scoring at least a touchdown in all but one of those games.
He’s also recorded over 71 receiving yards in seven of those eight games, registering 64 in the one he missed. He’s been a nightmare for opposing teams to contain, and should be able to smash this prop with ease.
Where to Bet on Lions vs. Vikings Picks
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Lions-Vikings picks made 9/21/2022 at 3 p.m. ET
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