Minnesota Vikings vs. Los Angeles Rams: Picks, Predictions, Odds and Player Props

Week 8 of the 2024 NFL campaign kicks off with the Minnesota Vikings visiting the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium for Thursday Night Football.

The 5-1 Vikings are looking to bounce back from their first loss of the season, while the 2-4 Rams are hoping to win back-to-back games for the first time this season.

It’s time to break down the Vikings vs. Rams matchup and discuss the best bets to make.

Minnesota Vikings vs. Los Angeles Rams betting picks and predictions

Vikings -3 (-115)

Previously the last undefeated team in the NFC, the Vikings lost at home to the Detroit Lions in Week 7.

Of course, there is no shame in coming up short against Detroit - especially when it’s by a 31-29 scoreline on a field goal in the final seconds.

There is no doubt that the Vikings are among the best teams in the conference and perhaps even in the entire NFL.

Sam Darnold continued to play well, completing 22/27 passes for 259 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He has now tossed 12 TD passes through six games this season.

On the other side of the ball, Minnesota’s defense has surrendered 17 points or fewer in four of six outings.

This is certainly a tough test for the Rams, whose wins have come against the San Francisco 49ers and Las Vegas Raiders.

San Francisco was already banged up in a big way prior to that Week 3 result, and Las Vegas is terrible.

The Rams’ 20-15 victory over the Raiders this past Sunday was thoroughly unspectacular; they gained only 259 total yards and prevailed by less than a touchdown even though LAs Vegas committed four turnovers.

To say that Minnesota won’t be so generous would be an understatement. LA barely scraped by the team with the worst turnover differential in the league (-13), and they are now about to play the team with the seventh-best turnover differential (+4).

SoFi Stadium is not a particularly difficult venue in which to play and the Vikings are 3-0 away from home this year, including a win over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.

As such, there is no reason to be concerned about them being on the road for this one, so count on the visitors prevailing by more than a field goal on Thursday night.

Under 47 (-110)

The Under seems like the way to play Thursday’s game total. As mentioned above, Minnesota’s defense has been stellar for the most part in 2024.

It is sixth in scoring (17.8 points per game allowed) and second against the run (80.0 yards per game allowed).

The Vikings are going up against a Rams outfit that has been without wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua for much of the season. Kupp is expected to return from a sprained ankle on Thursday, but has not played since Week 2.

He could be rusty and perhaps is still less than 100 percent healthy, while Nacua will likely remain sidelined by a knee injury that he sustained in Week 1.

Los Angeles has exceeded the 20-point mark just once this entire season, so it’s hard to see Matthew Stafford and company doing a whole lot at the Vikings’ expense.

As for Minnesota’s offense, it should do enough to win, but probably won’t set the world on fire.

Darnold has been picked off in five of six games so far this year and the rushing attack is in the bottom half of the NFL in yards and close to the very bottom in touchdowns (four).

All things considered, 47.0 looks like too big of a number on Thursday night.

Read more betting picks and predictions for the NFL on site.

Minnesota Vikings vs. Los Angeles Rams odds 

Minnesota Vikings	-165 ML
Los Angeles Rams	+140 ML
Spread	Vikings -3.0
Total Points	O/U 47.0

Minnesota Vikings vs. Los Angeles Rams player props 

Anytime Touchdown

Justin Jefferson (MIN Vikings)	-138
Aaron Jones (MIN Vikings)	+120
Jordan Addison (MIN Vikings)	+160
Kyren Williams (LA Rams)	-163
Cooper Kupp (LA Rams)	+137
Jordan Whittington (LA Rams)	+210

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.