Detroit Lions (3-2 SU, 3-2 ATS) vs. Minnesota Vikings (2-3 SU, 2-3 ATS)
NFL Week 6
Date and Time: Sunday, October 12, 2014, 1:00 pm EST
Where: TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minn.
TV: Fox, DirecTV – 708
by Badger, Football Handicapper, Predictem.com
Point Spread: Det. /Minn.
Over/Under Total: 45
Bet your Lions/Vikings pick at an online sportsbook where your credit card WILL work for deposits and where you’ll receive a generous 50% bonus up to $250 FREE: Bovada Sportsbook. Great live in-game betting too!
The betting world, as well as National Football League fans in and around the greater-Minnesota and Las Vegas areas, are waiting anxiously for word to come out of Minneapolis this week in regards to who will be playing quarterback for the Vikings when they host the NFC North rival Detroit Lions at home in TCF Bank Stadium this Sunday.
The Vikings have reason for optimism as rookie Teddy Bridgewater will have had 14 days to recover from his high ankle sprain, although his official early diagnosis is questionable. The Vikings struggled to reignite the spark that Bridgewater provided in their last game, a 42-10 butt-whoopin at the hands of the rival Green Bay Packers in primetime on Thursday Night.
Detroit is also licking their wounds coming into Sundays game on the road against the divisional rival Vikings, having blown a lead in allowing the Buffalo Bills to come into Ford Field and steal one on a 58-yard field goal, 17-14 , in action last weekend. The Lions may also be playing without megatron Calvin Johnson this Sunday, as his ankle has become bad enough that head coach Jim Caldwell may be forced to shut him down for a few weeks.
With Minnesota still mum on the status of Bridgewater, there is still no point spread or total for this game early on Sunday.
DEPOSIT $100 AND GET $100 FREE AT GTBETS
The Vikings are clearly a different offense with Bridgewater, compared to last weeks emergency starter Christian Ponder. But lets not mince facts here, without running back Adrian Peterson what exactly do you expect out of the Viking offense anyway? Without A.P. and the threat to take it to the house on any given play defenses no longer are forced to creep an eighth player in the box. And without Bridgewater, the Vikings are just not good enough in the passing game (205 ypg 28th) to beat most opposing defenses in the NFL. Add in the fact the Detroit defense, currently ranked No. 1 overall (282 ypg) is waiting for the rookie signal caller if he is ready to take snaps this Sunday.
Detroit will try and get its mojo back on offense against a Vikings defense that was not nearly as bad as it looks at first glance with the 42 points they gave up to Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay offense. Detroit still is way over reliant on the right arm of Mathew Stafford in its attack, as they have virtually abandoned the running game (84 ypg 28th) just six weeks into the season a trademark of Jim Caldwell-coached teams.
Historically, the Lions struggle on the road in Minnesota going 1-4 SU in their last five meetings and 1-4-1 ATS in their last six games in Minnesota. Last years game ended in a slim, 14-13, Vikings victory late in the season when Cordarrelle Patterson scored two touchdowns in a similar game played with Peterson at running back for the Vikings.
For what its worth, the Lions do seem to play well against the NFC North, going 6-2 ATS in their last eight inside the division. But they are 1-4 ATS in their last five road games, while the Vikings seem to be a different team at home with a 5-1 ATS record in their last six home games.
Badgers Pick to Cover the Point Spread: Id advise you focus your bankroll and your effort towards one of the other 14 games on the card in the NFL this week. Check out : http://www.predictem.com/forums/nfl-game-previews-picks/ for picks and predictions on those games.
