Vikings vs. Lions NFL Week 14 odds, spread, trends: Minnesota surprising underdog but taking massive betting action

Are the Minnesota Vikings the Rodney Dangerfield of the NFL? "No respect!" It's rather unusual to see a 10-2 division leader as an underdog at a 5-7 team, but that's the case for Minnesota on Sunday in Detroit as the Viking are +2.5. However, bettors at Caesars Sportsbook are simply crushing Kirk Cousins & Co. on the spread and moneyline (+118)

According to the Action Network, it's the first time a team with its starting quarterback available (Cousins) and a season winning percentage of at least 80% is an underdog against a team that had a losing record in December or later since 2004. On Dec. 5 that year, the 9-2 Atlanta Falcons led by Michael Vick were 1.5-point underdogs in Tampa against the Buccaneers, who won 27-0. Vick was sacked five times, threw two interceptions and lost two fumbles, and the Bucs scored after each of the turnovers.

At Caesars as of this writing, the Vikings have more than twice as many moneyline bets as any other team for Week 14 and have the second-most spread bets behind the Raiders at -6 for Thursday night's game at the plummeting Los Angeles Rams.

Minnesota wins or clinches the NFC North with a win or tie. The Vikings have a whopping 9-0 record in one-score games this season, including tying an NFL record of seven consecutive one-possession victories. They have a point differential of only +10 because they were blown out in their losses to the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. The Lions are trying to keep their playoff hopes alive in the NFC. They've won four of five and the only loss came in the final seconds to the Super Bowl-favored Buffalo Bills on Thanksgiving.

Sunday is the first time the Vikings or the Lions are playing a division opponent for the second time this season. In the first matchup Week 3, Minnesota beat Detroit 28-14 despite trailing 24-14 midway through the fourth quarter. Cousins hit KJ Osborn for the winning 28-yard touchdown with 45 seconds left.

It will also be the first meeting between the teams since Detroit dealt tight end T.J. Hockenson to Minnesota ahead of the trade deadline for draft picks. Hockenson has 30 catches for 225 yards and a TD with his new team. 

• Picks: NFL | NBA | CFB | CBB
• DFS: Lineup Optimizer | Picks
• Early Edge: YouTube | Apple Podcasts
• Newsletters: SportsLine Daily | Fantasy

Qualifying SportsLine members receive a 30-day free trial of Paramount+ premium. Sync your account right here.