Vikings vs. Lions NFL injury report, odds, pick: Detroit could all but wrap up 2022 No. 1 overall draft pick with loss; Dalvin Cook, D'Andre Swift out

The current betting favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft is Oregon pass-rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux at -110. The winless Detroit Lions can't lock up the No. 1 overall pick with a home loss Sunday vs. Minnesota, but they could come darn close to it. While the Lions are 7.5-point underdogs, oddsmakers still favor them to get at least one victory in 2021 and they almost did get one earlier this year at Minnesota. Both teams' top running back will miss Sunday's game. Click here for model picks.

Detroit has lost four games by three points or fewer. One was Week 5 in the Twin Cities, 19-17. Down 16-6 with less than three minutes left, the Lions impressively rallied to lead 17-16 with 37 seconds to go. However, the Lions being the Lions, they allowed Minnesota to get into position for a 54-yard field goal, which Greg Joseph converted as time expired.

If Detroit loses again Sunday to fall to 0-11-1, it's hard to see the Lions winning more than one total game – perhaps Week 16 in Atlanta. Week 18 vs. Green Bay could be interesting if the Packers have the No. 1 seed in the NFC wrapped up and rest Aaron Rodgers and their starters.

On the fewest wins prop, Detroit is a heavy -450 favorite as every other club in the league has at least two victories. Only Houston (+600) and Jacksonville (+1200) have realistic chances of winning this prop other than the Lions. The Texans and Jags still have to play each other again, so one is getting to three wins barring a tie. 

That the Lions go winless is +250 with no -400. At the same time, to go winless is the +250 favorite on the "which will the Lions beat first" prop. It's important to distinguish between the wording. Minnesota is the +275 second-favorite as first team Detroit will beat, followed by Atlanta (Week 16) and Denver (Week 14) both at +350.

Detroit's 7-4 ATS record is the best ever by a winless team through 11 games and the Lions have covered their past three. They are 6-1 ATS this season as dogs of at least four points. Detroit will not have arguably its best offensive player Sunday in running back D'Andre Swift due to a shoulder injury. He leads the team with 984 yards from scrimmage and six total touchdowns.

Consider wagering an Over Kirk Cousins prop Sunday as he's 7-0 in his career as the Vikings QB vs. Detroit with 16 touchdowns and just two picks for a QB rating of 123.0. At 5-6, the Vikings sit eighth in the NFC. They are -110 to make the playoffs and -110 to miss. 

Minnesota will not have Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook due to injury but has a terrific backup in Alexander Mattison. Linebackers Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr are in question. Cornerback Patrick Peterson is likely out in COVID protocols.

Free pick: This writer is on the Lions now that the spread is +7.5. Might not stay there long.  

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