The Detroit Lions (8-7) will visit the Minnesota Vikings (7-8) in the second of three NFL Christmas games.
The once-mighty Lions find themselves in a must-win game, as they’ve lost four of their last six games and need to win their final two games to have any chance of making the playoffs.
The Vikings, on the other hand, have won three in a row and look poised to finish the season strong despite already being out of the playoff picture.
Keep reading to get my favorite Lions vs Vikings predictions for Thursday’s game.
Lions vs Vikings Odds
All NFL odds used for these Lions vs Vikings best bets are current as of Tuesday, Dec. 23, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: Lions (-250) vs Vikings (+205)
- Spread: Lions -6 (-112) vs Vikings +6 (-108)
- Over/Under: Over 44.5 (-105) / Under 44.5 (-115)
Lions vs Vikings Predictions
Score Prediction: Lions 27, Vikings 24
The Lions aren’t exactly a reliable road favorite these days after losing four of their last six games and suffering a loss to the Vikings earlier this season.
However, Detroit is desperate for a win and still has a dynamic offense that has scored at least 24 points in eight of the team’s last nine games.
On the other side of the ball, the Lions are giving up 31.6 points per game over their last five games.
But with J.J. McCarthy’s status in question because of a hand injury that knocked him out of last week’s game, the Vikings aren’t positioned to win a shootout, which ultimately favors Detroit to pull out a close contest.
Lions vs Vikings Best Bets for Christmas 2025
Vikings +6 (-108) vs Lions
I’m not entirely convinced the Lions will win this game, so taking the Vikings and the points feels like the smart bet.
It’s a relatively safe assumption that the Lions are going to move the ball and score points.
However, the Detroit defense is unreliable, so even if Max Brosmer has to step in for McCarthy, the Vikings should score enough points to stay within striking distance and make this game close.
Back the hosts with your NFL pick of the day.
Over 44.5 Total Points (-105)
The Lions have both a high-scoring offense and a problematic defense, so it’s best to take the over in every game they have.
The over has hit in Detroit’s last five games and seven of eight since the Lions had their bye week.
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In fact, a 16-9 slugfest with the Eagles is the only time in their last eight games that the Lions didn’t have over 50 total points scored in one of their games.
Granted, it’s been the opposite with the Vikings, but after these teams combined for 51 points in their first meeting this season, going over 44.5 points seems likely.
Jameson Williams: 80+ Receiving Yards (+174)
Williams has become an increasingly important part of the Detroit offense over the past month, in part because Amon-Ra St. Brown is battling an injury.
In his last four games, Williams has had at least nine targets, something that hadn’t happened all season until Thanksgiving.
More importantly, he’s averaging 111 receiving yards over those four games and has gone over 80 yards in five of his last seven outings.
Even if the Vikings do a better job against him than other teams have in recent weeks, 80 yards is a realistic possibility for Williams and good value with plus-money odds.
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