Note: Odds and lines are current from DraftKings at the time of writing and subject to change based on player personnel changes and how the betting public reacts to prices offered.

The Detroit Lions will hit the road for an NFC North rivalry matchup with the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis this Sunday. The Lions have ascended out of the league’s metaphorical basement and started to become credible, while the dichotomy of the Vikings’ performances has left both bettors and fans frustrated and confused.

Quarterback Jared Goff leads an army of pesky overachievers into battle in what he hopes will be Detroit’s second win of the season. On the other side, Kirk Cousins, an MVP candidate in Week 1 and a shadow of a man in Week 2, will hope to settle into a more consistent rhythm. 

Divisional matchups tend to bring the best—and worst—out of players, leaving every reason to take a look at the matchup’s betting lines. Here are a few that sports bettors will want to pay attention to. 

The Lions are tied with the Kansas City Chiefs for the second-most points scored this season. They hung 35 on the Philadelphia Eagles defense in Week 1, losing by three points.

Those same Eagles made the Vikings look foolish during a Week 2 Monday night match that ended with a 24-7 loss for Minnesota. The Lions continued to demolish everyone’s expectations in a 36-27 victory over the Commanders in Week 2.

Detroit has playmakers at key positions with wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown and running back D’Andre Swift, as well as a solid offensive line captained by young right tackle Penei Sewell. They still lack overall experience, despite having a couple of years together as a core, but they continue to improve and always look lively.

Minnesota is still a six-point favorite on the point betting spread , which means they will have to win by more than six to win any spread wagers. The Vikings are a tricky team to predict because of their inconsistency—one week they look like an NFC Championship contender, and the next they look like they won’t even make the playoffs.

In a way, every bet for this game is iffy, as both teams are unknown quantities. The Lions’ collective youth can cause them to rise to a challenge or shrink in key situations, while the Vikings have a quarterback that shies away from the spotlight. 

That said, both teams are in the conversation for having the most explosive offense in the league. What makes that claim even more astonishing is that they are doing it in unconventional ways, as neither has a prototypical strong-arm quarterback or MVP candidate running back. Instead, they rely heavily on athletes on the outside and play to the whistle every snap.

There is little value on the moneyline for the Vikings, and the game betting total seems like a toss-up, leaving the spread as the most reasonable bet. Here, Minnesota would likely get the nod to win, but that is banking on them bouncing back and the Lions suffering a mental lapse.

The biggest name in the impending matchup is Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who was quiet in Week 2 after a stellar season opener. A majority of the team’s offensive success is predicated on his ability to make plays, so it would not be a surprise to see him run free a few times.

Jefferson torched the Packers’ secondary in Week 1 to the tune of nine receptions, 184 yards and two touchdowns, and although he was limited to just six catches for 48 yards on Monday, he was still thrown the most targets (12). Minnesota moves Jefferson all over the field and continually makes him the focal point, so it’s tough to imagine him having another quiet afternoon.

Swift is a spark plug coming out of the backfield. The third-year back is averaging 10 yards per carry and 100 yards per game on the ground, is fourth on the team in receiving yards, and has crossed the pylons in four of his last five games. Dan Campbell has a real weapon at his disposal with Swift, and since the Vikings are giving up 4.8 yards per carry, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he busts loose more than once. 

A same-game parlay is a bet with multiple layers from within the same event. Parlays increase the potential payout without demanding a higher risk amount.

One of the most interesting player props to add to a parlay is Cousins over 2.5 passing touchdowns (+155). Minnesota’s QB will be back in his comfort zone playing at home on a Sunday afternoon, away from the bright lights and national media. Asking him to sling three touchdowns may seem like a lot, but he looked great in Week 1 and is running an open, pass-heavy offense.

Adam Thielen has become a bit of an afterthought recently after he appeared to be entering the conversation for top-10 receiver in the league. However, he is averaging just under 54 yards per game across his last five outings, and he would benefit from a big day from Cousins. His line of 50.5 receiving yards feeds into the over (-115).

If the Vikings are going to score a lot, as predicted, then they are almost inevitably going to go over their points total. Look for them to start hot and go over 14.5 points in the first half (-110). 

Finally, T.J. Hockenson could be another candidate to go over his receiving total of 39.5 yards (-115). The Lions’ starting tight end is second on the team in targets but has only caught half of them, so with a little luck, he’ll haul in more passes and fly over this total.

Here’s how the theoretical SGP would look on a bet slip:

Note: Some of the bets may not be eligible for a SGP depending on the sportsbook you use.

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