The NFL regular season comes to a close with one of the most exciting Sunday Night Football matchups of the year as the Minnesota Vikings visit the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.
Covers betting analysts Josh Inglis, Rohit Ponnaiya, and Sam Farley offered their favorite NFL picks and analysis ahead of this prime-time showdown, and we've collected all their takes in one convenient location!
Check out their complete Vikings vs Lions predictions below as you finalize your betting slip for tonight's prime-time clash.
Vikings vs Lions picks
Goff 3+ passing TDs- Gibbs Over 33.5 receiving yards
Darnold Over 288.5 passing yards- Same-Game Parlay
Vikings vs Lions expert picks & predictions
Pick: Jared Goff 3+ TD passes (-110 at bet365)
Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions won't let their feet off the gas, and Josh Inglis likes the QB to hit at least three end-zone targets.
"Goff has passed for 14 touchdowns over his last four games, hitting the 3+ TD mark in each contest. The offense has scored 150 points over that stretch with a ratio of passing TDs to rushing ones at 14:5. It’s an offense that lost David Montgomery and is leaning on Goff even more with a thin run game and paper-thin defense."
Minnesota's defense is vulnerable to the pass as well.
"Brian Flores’ unit is the No.1 rush defense, per EPA/rush. It can be beaten through the air and its league-high blitz rate will leave a lot of single coverage on some serious Detroit weapons who can continue to bust huge gains."
With Detroit's defense a shambles, Goff must pick up the slack in what could easily become a shootout.
Vikings vs Lions prop pick
Pick: Jahmyr Gibbs Over 33.5 receiving yards (-110 at bet365)
Rohit Ponnaiya expects Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs to get in on the action and be one of the beneficiaries of Goff airing it out.
"Gibbs has racked up at least four catches and 45 yards in three straight games. He also had four catches for 44 yards when the Lions previously faced Minnesota in Week 7."
One of the most productive backs in the NFL even before Montgomery's injury, Gibbs can always be expected to be involved.
Sam Darnold prop pick
Pick: Sam Darnold Over 288.5 passing yards (-110 at bet365)
Sam Farley is looking for Vikings QB Sam Darnold to go toe-to-toe with Goff in the passing game because Minnesota still has something to play for.
"(The) Vikings' hopes of clinching the No. 1 seed rest on the shoulders of Sam Darnold, who has led this team to a level that nobody expected.
"For Darnold, it marks a chance for redemption after initially being deemed a bust. Darnold has traveled the path previously trodden by Geno Smith, becoming a backup at a well-run organization before ultimately starting and putting together an incredible season — one which might earn him the Comeback of the Year award."
Darnold has averaged 259.5 yards per game and is coming off a great performance where he threw for 377 yards and three TDs vs. the Packers.
Vikings vs Lions SNF same-game parlay
Jared Goff 3+ passing TDs
Jordan Addison anytime TD
Sam LaPorta anytime TD
Closing out our picks, Josh is adding anytime TD selections on both sides.
"Jordan Addison and Sam LaPorta are two great TD targets outside of the WR1s and running backs. Addison has seven TDs over his last seven games with a score in five of them. Aaron Jones is banged up so perhaps Sam Darnold's offense will want to rely on the pass a little more Sunday night. Since Week 12, no WR has had more red-zone receptions than Addison's 12 on 13 targets.
"To stack the Goff pass TD prop, I'm adding TE Sam LaPorta. Only Trey McBride and Travis Kelce have more RZ targets since Week 12 than LaPorta who has TDs in back-to-back games entering Week 18. There is going to be a lot of scoring Sunday night and the SGP options are pretty wide open."
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Vikings vs Lions odds
Vikings vs Lions live odds
Vikings vs Lions opening odds
- Spread: Minnesota +3 (-120) | Detroit -3 (+100)
- Moneyline: Minnesota +130 | Detroit -155
- Over/Under: Over 52.5 (-110) | Under 52.5 (-110)
Odds courtesy of bet365
How to watch Vikings vs Lions
| Location: | Ford Field, Detroit, MI |
| Date: | Sunday, 1-5, 2025 |
| Kickoff: | 8:20 p.m. ET |
| TV: | NBC |
Vikings vs Lions latest injuries
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