On Christmas Eve, the Detroit Lions defeated the Minnesota Vikings 30–24 to capture their first division championship in thirty years. The line for the rematch in the season finale back in Detroit is set by oddsmakers there.
The Lions are favored by five points at Caesars Sportsbook and the usual suspects, while a few other teams are at 5.5 points. According to the Action Network, the Lions have received 64% of all wagers placed by the public. The Vikings are 7-7-2 against the spread this year, while the Lions are 11-5 against it going into their Week 18 matchup.Minnesota has kept switching around its quarterbacks. The Vikings used rookie Jaren Hall against the Green Bay Packers last weekend after starting Nick Mullens against the Lions. After a poor first half, Hall was benched, and Mullens completed the game in the 33-10 loss.
In their division-clinching victory, the Lions intercepted Mullens four times, including in the closing minute to end the game. In his thirty minutes return on the field, Hall did little to inspire hope, and Josh Dobbs is still benched for an unknown reason following a scorching run.
The Vikings are 7-9, but they are still mathematically eligible to make the playoffs. If the Vikings triumph and the Packers, Seattle Seahawks, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers lose, the Vikings will advance to the postseason. The alternative is a victory over the Lions combined with losses by the Packers, Seahawks, and New Orleans Saints.
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