Predictions, Picks & Best Odds for Vikings vs Rams Matchup on Wild Card Weekend

• The Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams will meet in Glendale, AZ, on Monday night due to wildfires in LA
• Though the Rams no longer have home-field advantage, the Vikings vs Rams spread hasn’t moved
• See the Minnesota Vikings vs Los Angeles Rams predictions, picks, and best odds for Jan. 13

With wildfires continuing to rage in LA, the Wild Card matchup between the Minnesota Vikings (14-3, 11-5-1 ATS) and Los Angeles Rams (10-7, 9-8 ATS) has been moved to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Monday night (8 pm ET). LA was a 2.5-point home underdog when the NFL odds for Wild Card weekend first opened and the spread remains Vikings -2.5 as of late Sunday night.

Minnesota Vikings vs Los Angeles Rams Predictions

This is the second meeting of the season between the teams, with the Rams coming from behind to win 30-20 at home back in Week 8 (Oct. 24), out-gaining Minnesota by a wide margin in the process (386 to 276 yards). Matthew Stafford torched the Minnesota secondary in the first meeting, throwing for 279 yards and four touchdowns on 73.5% passing (25-of-34) with one interception.

That was one of the few games during the regular season when LA had it’s entire receiving corps intact, and they’ll head into the postseason at full strength as well.

Matt Stafford just needed his WRs back. My goodness. #Rams #Vikings #TNF pic.twitter.com/zB0NETnnvV

— Clay Harbor (@clayharbs82) October 25, 2024

The vaunted Minnesota defense showed signs of cracking the last few weeks of the regular season. The Vikings were averaging just 18.0 PPG against through their first 14 games, but gave up 24 or more in each of the last three. They finished the season rated just 11th overall on defense at PFF (71.4).

Yes, Minnesota’s last three games were all against above-average offenses (27-24 win at Seattle, 27-25 win vs Green Bay, 31-9 loss at Detroit), but that’s exactly what they’ll be facing against Stafford and the Rams. In addition to two stud receivers in Puka Nacua (990 yards in 11 games) and Cooper Kupp (710 yards in 12 games), running back Kyren Williams finished the season seventh in the league in rushing yards (1,299) and fifth in rushing TDs (14), giving LA a run/pass balance they haven’t had in a few seasons.

Ultimately, I’m taking the Rams to win because I have infinitely more trust in Matthew Stafford than Sam Darnold. Stafford has a Super Bowl ring on his finger and was excellent last season when his Rams fell 24-23 in a heartbreaker at Detroit in the Wild Card round (25-of-36 for 367 yards, two TDs, no INTs).

Darnold will be making his first career playoff start. In a postseason-type atmosphere at Detroit last weekend, he had his worst game of the season (18-of-41 for 166 yards and no touchdowns). This won’t be the hostile road environment it could have been but I still have a ton of doubts about Darnold being able to fully utilize his top-tier receiving corps to its fullest. Add in a fading Minnesota defense, and this has all the trappings of a moneyline upset.

Best Available Vikings vs Rams Odds

FanDuel has the best price on both the Rams to cover +2.5 (-102) and the Rams to win straight-up (+126 on the moneyline). The longest available odds on the Vikings to cover are found at DraftKings (-108) while a trio of books have the best odds on the Minnesota moneyline (-140): Caesars, bet365, and BetMGM.

There is a half-point range in the game total. DraftKings is on the low end at 47.5 (O -108/U -112), which makes it the best option for over bettors. FanDuel and ESPN Bet also have the total at 47.5 but with slightly shorter odds on the over.

Most sites have the game total a half-point higher at 48.0 with -110 odds both ways, including BetMGM, Caesars, and bet365.

The NFL public betting splits show the Vikings getting a massive 80% of moneyline handle as -140 chalk but only 51% of ATS handle as 2.5-point favorites. The public is also hammering the under, putting 81% of

The Minnesota Vikings will face off against the Los Angeles Rams in a highly anticipated matchup on Wild Card Weekend. Both teams have had successful seasons and will be looking to advance to the next round of the playoffs.

The Vikings finished the regular season with a record of 10-6, securing a spot in the playoffs as the sixth seed in the NFC. Led by quarterback Kirk Cousins and running back Dalvin Cook, the Vikings have a potent offense that can put up points in a hurry. On the defensive side of the ball, they have playmakers like linebacker Eric Kendricks and safety Harrison Smith who can make game-changing plays.

The Rams, on the other hand, finished the regular season with a record of 12-4, earning the third seed in the NFC. Led by quarterback Matthew Stafford and star defensive tackle Aaron Donald, the Rams have one of the most balanced teams in the league. Their offense is explosive, with weapons like wide receiver Cooper Kupp and running back Sony Michel, while their defense is one of the best in the league.

When it comes to predictions for this matchup, it’s expected to be a close and competitive game. Both teams have strengths and weaknesses that could impact the outcome of the game. The Vikings will need to establish a strong running game with Cook to keep the Rams’ defense on their toes, while the Rams will need to pressure Cousins and force turnovers to disrupt the Vikings’ offense.

In terms of picks, it’s a tough call but many experts are leaning towards the Rams as the favorites to win this game. They have home-field advantage and a more experienced roster when it comes to playoff games. However, the Vikings are a resilient team and should not be counted out.

As for the best odds for this matchup, sportsbooks currently have the Rams listed as favorites with odds of -3.5. The over/under for total points scored in the game is set at 49.5, indicating that oddsmakers are expecting a high-scoring affair.

Overall, this Vikings vs Rams matchup is shaping up to be one of the most exciting games of Wild Card Weekend. Both teams have the talent and potential to make a deep playoff run, so it will be interesting to see who comes out on top in this showdown.