Pinnacle -3 -101  BET365 -3 -110 Sportsinteraction -3 -110  888Sport  -3 -110

Posted at 9:00 AM EST. Odds are subject to change.

Detroit -3 over Minnesota

8:15 PM ET. Let’s first acknowledge what this game represents: the final chapter of the regular season and a battle for the NFC’s No. 1 seed. Both teams are 14-2, both are playoff-bound, and both have been excellent against the spread. On paper, and in the media, this is a heavyweight fight.

The Lions are an absolute wrecking ball offensively. They lead the NFL in scoring (33.3 points per game) and rank second in total yards per game (410.5). What sets Detroit apart is not just their raw numbers but the variety of ways they can beat you. Jared Goff is playing like a top-five QB, and his supporting cast is unmatched. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams form a lethal receiving duo, and Jahmyr Gibbs is proving to be a game-changing back. The Lions don’t just win; they bury teams with relentless pressure and creativity. However, the media narrative is, the Leo’s are too banged up to make a legit run at the Lombardi Trophy.

Last week’s performance against San Francisco encapsulates what Detroit brings to the table. Down 21-13 at halftime, the Lions stormed back with a 28-13 second-half onslaught in a game they didn’t need to win. The defense forced two turnovers, and the offense delivered a clinic. Dan Campbell is building a team that knows how to handle adversity and thrives under pressure.

The Vikings deserve credit for a strong season, but their 14-2 record feels a bit hollow. Their defense is excellent against the run but highly suspect against the pass, ranking near the bottom of the league in passing yards allowed. Furthermore, the Vikes strength of schedule ranked 25th in the league, while the Lions played the eighth toughest sked. The Vikings demolished the Packers last Sunday, and that result has an influence here, as the Vikes were a popular fade target in the market. After that domination, there could be a propensity of the market to “zig-zag” and back Minnesota as the pooch.

If you’ve followed this space long enough, you know we’re always looking for inflated lines, overvalued teams, or situations where the market is leaning too heavily on one side. This game doesn’t fit neatly into any of those categories, but it does give us an opportunity to exploit a nuanced market perception mismatch. The Lions -3 isn’t screaming “value” at first glance, but a closer look at the situation reveals why Detroit is the side we must trust here. The Lions were built for this moment.

Take advantage of BET365's early NFL payout offer! 

For straight bets, if the team you back to win goes 17 Points ahead at any stage during the game, BET365 will pay out your bet in full regardless of whether the opposition comes back to win the game.

For parlays and Same Game Parlays, if a team you have backed goes 17 Points ahead, this selection will be marked as won within My Bets, with the remaining selections left to run.

Here is a wager we were paid out early on that would eventually lose. 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------