Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions Week 5 Betting Preview, Odds, and Prediction

Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions Week 5 Betting Preview, Odds, and Prediction

Date: Sunday, October 10, 2021

Time: 1:00 PM ET

Location: US Bank Stadium, Minneapolis

Where To Watch: FOX

Minnesota Vikings Record: 1-3-0 SU, 2-2-0 ATSDetroit Lions Record: 0-4-0 SU, 2-2-0 ATS

Click Here For Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions Betting Odds

Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions Preview

The Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions collide in an NFC North battle of the division's bottom-feeders. The Vikings are 1-3, and the Lions are winless after four laps around the league. Now, with Week 5 looming on the horizon, almost a third of the season is in the books. Time is running out for both Minnesota and Detroit to salvage their respective campaigns, and if they don't turn things around soon, they might be calling time on 2021.

Books opened this game with the Vikings laying 8 points to the Lions, and that spread has already swung to -8.5 (-110) or -9 (-115) with several sports betting outlets. The total opened on 49.5 points, but with early play coming down on the over, it's poised to tick up to 50 points.

Minnesota Vikings Odds & Overview

Mike Zimmer is mired in a second-straight disappointing start after his Vikings slipped to a 1-3 record last Sunday. Zimmer's shaky job security received some reprieve in Week 3, following a solid 30-17 victory over the Seattle Seahawks at US Bank Stadium. However, that reprieve didn't last long, and he's back on the hot seat after Minnesota's lackluster 14-7 defeat to the Cleveland Browns. 

To add insult to injury, Zimmer was outcoached by his former offensive coordinator, Kevin Stefanski, who is at the helm of the Browns and living it up after winning the AP Coach of the Year last season. The Browns outmuscled and outplayed the Vikings on the ground, and the defense neutralized Kirk Cousins and the offense in a low-scoring slugfest. 

Minnesota's woes aren't new. They began last season, after the departure of Stefanski, and, ironically, this year's start is identical to last year's – they went 1-3 straight up (SU) in their first four games in 2020 and 1-5 SU before a Week 7 bye. The Vikings managed to turn things around somewhat and finish the term with a 7-9-0 SU, but that was hardly anything to cheer. Another disappointing season like that, and it's hard to imagine Zimmer's position would remain tenable. 

Detroit Lions Odds & Overview

Jared Goff came into this season with the best intentions, hoping to prove the Los Angeles Rams made a mistake by trading him away to the Detroit Lions. But, alas, things haven't gone to plan for the maligned quarterback as the Lions are winless in the first four games of the 2021 campaign. 

All isn't lost, though. If there's one thing Detroit fans can hang their hats on, it's the fact that the Lions haven't played poorly. Dan Campbell's rebuild project looks better than most predicted before the season, and Goff fits nicely with the offense. Of course, the Lions aren't without issues; which team is? But there's room for optimism. 

Yes, they're winless, and that's something that can't be overlooked in terms of form and its impact on morale. But the Lions have had one of the toughest opening schedules with dates against the San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers, and Baltimore Ravens in their first three contests. Indeed, they even nearly delivered an upset in Week 3 over the Ravens, only for Justin Tucker to kick a record-breaking field goal to seize the win out of their expectant grasp. 

After that disheartening defeat, is it any wonder the Lions followed it up with a letdown performance? The Lions lost to the Chicago Bears 24-14 in Week 4, leaving Campbell and Goff still searching for their first win of the season.

Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions Odds

Click Here For Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions Betting Odds

Kirk Cousins' record against the Detroit Lions is flawless, winning all meetings since joining the Minnesota Vikings in 2018. That solid record, along with the Lions' current woes, underscores the NFL odds for this game. That said, the - 8 to -9 point spread does seem like a lot of points to lay with the Vikings, considering Minnesota isn't exactly raking in the wins right now. 

Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions Betting Preview and Predictions

Dan Campbell continues the search for Detroit's first win, while Mike Zimmer hopes to get Minnesota back on track if only to bring down the temperature of his hot seat. Neither of the Lions or the Vikings has a perceivable edge over the other that would warrant this massive point spread. 

The Vikings have the home advantage, and that puts them in a good position to clinch the win, but the Lions could keep this game closer than the NFL odds would have it. A lot is riding on the outcome of this game, high stakes that create an environment conducive to surprise results. So, don't be surprised if this game goes against the grain. Anything can happen.