The opening match of the traditional Thanksgiving Day triple header of NFL action is a divisional battle from Ford Field as the Detroit Lions host their NFC North rivals Minnesota Vikings in the biggest match of the day.
Detroit go into the match with a 6-4 record for the season while the Vikings are 8-2 for the campaign and they can put a real dent in the Lions’ hopes of winning the division if they can leave Motown with the victory.
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Detroit Lions
After a solid start to the season followed by a mid-season wobble the Detroit Lions go into this match off the back of three wins in a row so their confidence will be high. Their detractors will argue that they have beaten nothing of note in that current run but that is not their problem. You can only beat what is in front of you and they have.
Their offense relies largely on the powers of Matt Stafford at quarterback and their talented set of receivers. They really struggle to get a running game going and they can be found wanting on defence too especially in the back field. One thing they can never be accused of is lacking fight and holding their nerve.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings begun the season 2-2 in their first four matches but they have since embarked on a run of six successive wins which might well be a surprise given that they have been without Sam Bradford for the majority of the campaign. When you add to the mix that rookie running back Dalvin Cook picked up an early season injury the record of the Vikings is even more impressive.
One of the reasons why the Vikings have been so good this season has been their mean defence. They are measly against the run and they have enough of a pass rush to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks and when you add in the surge in form of wide receiver Adam Thielen the Minnesota outfit are going to be tough to beat.
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Betting
This should be the pick of the matches on Thanksgiving Day. It is a match I can see going either way too given the quality of the two sides and the form they are in going into the game. I’m not keen on betting on the match outcome but there is one bet that I like.
That comes in the receiving yards of Stefon Diggs. Adam Thielen’s improved form has been well noted now and I expect game plans to be formed to combat that and that can be to the benefit of Diggs. This time last year it was Diggs who was making a name for himself and in the reverse meeting between these two sides he caught for 98 yards.
His line for this match is 57.5 yards which looks on the low side. The Detroit defence gives up by plays in the passing game and if by covering Thielen they leave Diggs exposed he’ll fly past the 57.5 yards.
Tips
WON – Back S.Diggs – Over 57.5 receiving yards for a 4/10 stake at 1.85 with BetVictor
Back him here:
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