Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions, Odds, Preview, Prediction and Picks – Sunday, November 2

The Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions will meet in Week 9, and we'll preview the lines and odds in our Vikings vs. Lions prediction. The Vikings spent Week 8 losing 37-10 to the Chargers on Thursday Night Football, while the Lions enjoyed their bye after a 24-9 win against the Bucs in Week 8. Kickoff is set for 1:00 PM ET on Sunday, November 2.

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McCarthy takes over at QB

The Minnesota Vikings are 3-4 heading into Week 9, putting them at the bottom of the NFC North standings. They've lost each of their last two games, following their Week 6 bye with home losses to the Eagles (28-22) and Chargers (37-10).

Last week's game, especially, wasn't a good time for the Vikings or their fans. The team looked overmatched on offense, gaining only 164 yards while the Chargers racked up 419. Carson Wentz played through an injury to his non-throwing shoulder, wearing a conspicuously large brace throughout the game, and was sacked five times. He's since been moved to the team's injured reserve, setting sophomore quarterback J.J. McCarthy up for his third career start after he suffered a high ankle sprain earlier in the season.

Wentz aside, the Vikings got nothing out of their ground game against the Chargers–Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason, and Zavier Scott combined for 34 yards on 11 carries. The Chargers had no such struggle, bullying the Vikings' defense en route to 207 yards and a touchdown on 43 carries.

In parts of two games before he got hurt, McCarthy passed for 301 yards, two TDs, and three picks. Starting tackles Christian Darrisaw (knee) and Brian O'Neill (knee) are both on the report–Darrisaw is questionable after missing all but nine snaps in the loss to the Chargers, while O'Neill was a limited participant throughout the week after missing last week's game. Elsewhere on the report are starting edge defenders Jonathan Greenard (ankle) and Andrew Van Ginkel (neck), safety Josh Metellus (foot), and cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (shoulder). Van Ginkel is the key returnee at the Edge. He had 11.5 sacks last season and hasn't played since Week 3.

Detroit is coming off a bye

The Detroit Lions are 5-2 heading into Week 9, putting them only half a game behind the 5-1-1 Green Bay Packers for the top of the NFC North. They enjoyed a Week 8 bye ahead of this game, but beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-9 at home on Monday Night Football in their most recent action.

Jahmyr Gibbs was electric against the Bucs, making several Bucs defenders miss throughout the game, but his longest run of the day–a 78-yard touchdown in the second quarter–was a product of perfect run blocking from the Lions' offense. Gibbs got to the second level of the Bucs' defense untouched, at which point his speed easily carried him past the Bucs' defensive backs. He scored his second touchdown of the game in the third quarter, one play after taking a short pass for 28 yards, after two more plays where he ran left for a combined 18 yards. Gibbs finished the game with 136 yards on 17 carries and 82 yards on three catches, totalling 212 yards from scrimmage on 20 touches.

Defensively, the Lions clamped down on a Buccaneers offense that'd entered the game riding high despite several injuries. The Lions sacked Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield four times, logged 12 pass defenses, and forced two turnovers between a fumble recovery by Aidan Hutchinson and an interception from Arthur Maulet. Hutchinson enters Week 9 on the heels of a record-setting contract extension–$180 million over four years with $141 million in guarantees, the highest amount for any active non-quarterback. He's logged 13 quarterback hits, six tackles for loss, six sacks, four forced fumbles, and a pass defense through seven games this season.

Kerby Joseph (knee) has been ruled out for another game after missing the win against the Bucs. He's joined on the injury report by fellow starters Taylor Decker (shoulder), Al-Quadin Muhammad (hamstring), Avonte Maddox (hamstring), and Terrion Arnold (shoulder). Decker and Maddox are questionable; Arnold and Muhammad were full participants on Thursday and Friday and don't carry a game status designation.

Vikings vs. Lions Pick

Spread Pick for Vikings vs. Lions

• Lions -8.5 (-110) (4 Units)

The Lions are 5-2 against the spread this season, having covered in each of the five games they've won and all four games they entered as favorites. They've had a bye week to prepare for this game, and they'll be playing at home–where they're 3-0 both straight-up and against the spread this season. The Vikings are rolling out a wildcard situation at quarterback, have injury concerns surrounding major players at three to four critical positions, and have lost each of their last two games. It's hard to make a case for them here, even as 8.5-point underdogs.

Over/Under Pick for Vikings vs. Lions

• Under 48.0 (-110) (4 Units)

McCarthy's last start for the Vikings ended in a 22-6 loss to the Falcons, easily going under the 44.5 pregame total line. The Team Total Under is 3-1 in the Lions' last three games and 2-0 in their last two home games, only failing to hit in their 52-21 romp over the Bears in Week 2. That's the only time the Lions have scored more than 40 points this season, let alone 50; they've largely won without needing to score nearly that many points, and I doubt this iteration of the Vikings challenges them in that department.