Minnesota Vikings vs Los Angeles Rams Predictions & Best Odds for TNF (Week 8)

• Coming off their first loss of the season, the 5-1 Minnesota Vikings visit the 2-4 LA Rams on TNF
• Cooper Kupp is practicing in full this week and is slated to return from a four-game absence
• See the Minnesota Vikings vs Los Angeles Rams predictions and best odds for Thursday Night Football

Thursday Night Football in Week 8 brings an intriguing NFC clash between the Minnesota Vikings (5-1, 2-0 away, 5-1 ATS) and Los Angeles Rams (2-5, 2-1 home, 1-5 ATS) from SoFi Stadium at 8:15 pm ET. After suffering their first loss of the season, the Vikings have been positioned as field-goal favorites in the Week 8 NFL odds.

Minnesota Vikings vs LA Rams Predictions

• Vikings moneyline (-146) at FanDuel 
• Under 48.5 (-115) at ESPN Bet
  

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This has the feel of a trap game but I can’t get away from the Vikings in this spot. Despite their last-minute 31-29 setback to a very good Detroit team in Week 7, Minnesota still ranks second in the NFL in DVOA and is the only team in the top five on both offense (fourth) and defense (fifth).

The Rams, on the other hand, are 22nd overall and rank in the bottom half of the league on both sides of the ball (17th on offense, 28th on defense). The first six games of the season have proven beyond a doubt what the vast majority of pundits were already certain of: there is no replacing Aaron Donald. Even with the superb play of rookie linebacker Jared Verse – the current favorite in the Defensive Rookie of the Year odds – the Rams are still allowing 364.2 YPG (seventh-worst in the NFL) and 25.7 PPG (eighth-worst).

Jared Verse continues to win his pass rushes at a high rate.

27% PRWR at edge this year, ranks 4th at the position. pic.twitter.com/WIQvpXThxA

— Seth Walder (@SethWalder) October 21, 2024

While it’s sensible to expect some regression in the play of Minnesota QB Sam Darnold (228.3 YPG, 66.5 CMP%, 12 TD, 5 INT, 104.0 passer rating), given that he’s never had a completion percentage over 61.9 nor a passer rating over 92.6 in any of his previous six seasons, it’s also clear that he’s adapted well to Wes Phillips’ system. He is also working with one of the best skill-position corps in the league led by Justin Jefferson.

The Minnesota defense will have its hands full – at least fuller than LAR’s last four opponents – as Cooper Kupp (sprained ankle) returns from a four-game injury absence. But with Puka Nacua still on IR, Matthew Stafford won’t have his full complement of weapons.

The Vikings are lurking just outside the top-five favorites in the Super Bowl odds and I expect them to consolidate their status as legitimate contenders on TNF.

Best Vikings vs Rams Odds for TNF

Most sportsbooks have the Vikings vs Rams point spread at Minnesota -3 with the juice heavily skewed to the Rams. The best price on LAR +3 is currently -115 at BetMGM. DraftKings is the only book that has the standard line at Minnesota -2.5 but note that the odds are a short -122.

On the moneyline, FanDuel has the longest odds on a Minnesota victory at -146, while BetMGM has the best price on a Rams SU win at +135.

There is only a half-point range in the total at the moment. Over bettors can get 48.0 (-110) at Caesars while under bettors should grab 48.5 (-115) at ESPN Bet.

The NFL public betting splits for Week 8 show the public hammering the Vikings both against the spread and on the moneyline: as of 1:30 pm ET on Wednesday afternoon, Minnesota was attracting a ludicrous 99% of moneyline handle and 87% of ATS handle.