Vikings vs. Rams Prediction, TNF Picks & Odds for Tonight: Thursday Night Football

The Minnesota Vikings look to rebound from their first loss of the season when they take on the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football at 8:15 p.m. ET (Prime Video).

• The Vikings remain one of the top Super Bowl odds contenders and are tied for the best record in the NFC
• Sam Darnold is one of just nine players with NFL MVP odds shorter than 20/1
• The Rams are set to get back All-Pro receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua for TNF

Our Vikings vs. Rams prediction expects Los Angeles to cover as underdogs by the Thursday Night Football odds with both of its star receivers back.

The below picks are part of our NFL Week 8 predictions, and be sure to also check out our Vikings vs. Rams TNF prop bets and Sam Darnold TNF player props.

Vikings vs. Rams odds movement

Minnesota opened as a 3-point favorite at our best NFL betting sites. The line has since moved in the Rams' direction with the Vikings -2.5 ahead of kickoff.

However, 78% of the money is on Minnesota covering, with just 22% on the Rams. The Over has 51% of the money, with the total hovering around 47.5.

Best Vikings vs. Rams picks

NFL picks based on the odds from our best NFL betting sites. Odds subject to change.

• Against the spread pick: Rams +3.5 () vs. Vikings ⭐⭐⭐
• Player prop: Kyren Williams Over 14.5 receiving yards () ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Vikings vs. Rams against the spread prediction: Thursday Night Football

Rams to cover the spread: +3.5 (-115) ⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: -115 via BetMGM | Implied probability: 53.49%

Rams to get a key piece back

Wide receiver Cooper Kupp has been out since Week 2 with a sprained ankle. He is expected to feature after being listed as questionable against the Las Vegas Raiders last week.

Kupp started hot with 18 receptions for 147 yards and a touchdown before his early-season injury. The team desperately needs a playmaker -- scoring 20 or fewer points in five of six games -- although it has averaged 21 points, holding down the fort while going 2-2 in the four games Kupp missed.

Los Angeles can start fast

The Vikings have been the best first-quarter team all season, outscoring opponents 58-3 in the opening frame and racing out to a 10-0 lead against Detroit last week.

However, Los Angeles has led after the first quarter in two of the last three games and also had the resiliency to fight back from a 14-0 first-quarter hole to beat the 49ers at home earlier this season.

Lions gave Rams the blueprint

In their win over Minnesota, the Detroit Lions played their first game last week without star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. By revamping their defensive scheme without him, the Lions may have created a blueprint for stopping the Vikings.

Through the first five games of the season, Detroit blitzed on 27% of dropbacks, had a 7% sack percentage, and a 32% pressure percentage. In Week 7, the Lions blitzed 53% of the time, and their sack and pressure percentage increased to 11% and 33%, respectively.

The Lions sacked Sam Darnold four times, and the Rams will look to follow that formula and build on the momentum after their defense forced four turnovers last week.

Concerning trend for the Vikings

We are always somewhat leery of teams the week after a hard-fought game against a division rival. Minnesota is susceptible to a trend that has seen every team lose the week after playing Detroit.

As long as the Rams are getting more than a field goal, I am playing the underdogs. BetMGM is one of our top sports betting sites offering three points with the hook but it is the only one charging less than the standard -120 juice to back the home ‘dogs.

A $10 winning wager at BetMGM’s -115 odds would pay out $18.70.

Vikings vs. Rams player prop

Our NEW NFL player prop odds tool can help you find the best odds on any market across legal sportsbooks in your area!

Kyren Williams Over 14.5 receiving yards (-114) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kyren Williams has been a touchdown-scoring machine, with a rushing score in nine straight games dating back to last season. The Rams running back is one of two players (Derrick Henry is the other) with at least one touchdown in each game this season.

Oddsmakers have caught onto that trend, and his anytime touchdown odds are juiced as high as -200 at DraftKings (carrying a 66.67% implied probability), which is too steep for me.

So, I am pivoting to his receiving prop total for an edge, considering he has been overlooked in the passing game of late. Williams has seen his receiving yards total drop for four consecutive weeks, to the point where he did not see a single target in the passing game last week.

But Minnesota is one of the most blitz-happy defenses under Brian Flores, so there should be opportunities for plenty of dump-offs or screens. The Vikings' defense ranked in the top three in explosive run rate, rushing yards per game, and rushing success rate allowed entering Week 7.

However, while Jahmyr Gibbs torched Minnesota for 116 yards on the ground, his 44 receiving yards on four targets stood out more.

This is a four-star play, as Williams is likely to receive plenty of touches, but not necessarily in the running game given it is a short week (he has 20-plus rushes in three of the last four games).

We are getting great value with this number at FanDuel, as other top sports betting sites have his O/U set at 16.5.

We also think Williams could score the game's opening six points, as we discussed in our first touchdown scorer predictions for Thursday Night Football.

Best odds: -114 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 53.27%

Vikings vs. Rams odds

See all of this week's NFL odds and NFL scores.

Thursday Night Football game info

• Matchup: Vikings vs. Rams
• Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. ET
• Where: SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, Calif.)
• How to watch: Prime Video
• Weather: Indoors
• Favorite: Vikings -3.5 (-105 via BetMGM)

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