The Minnesota Vikings visit the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video) to kick off the NFL's Week 8 slate.
The Vikings are coming off their first loss of the season, a 31-29 nail-biter against the NFC North rival Detroit Lions, who took over the top spot in the division and are now the favorite (+120), just ahead of Minnesota (+185).
The Rams sit at 2-4 following a win last weekend, but they are still in last place in the NFC West and +750 to make the playoffs. The good news is receiver help could soon be on the way.
Minnesota is a 3-point favorite in a game that currently has the second-highest total of the week at 48.5 (Packers-Jaguars was 49.5 as of Thursday).
Odds current as of publish time, courtesy of ESPN BET
Game lines
Spread: Vikings -3
Money line: Vikings -145, Rams +125
Over/Under: 48.5
First-half spread: Vikings -0.5 (-120), Rams +0.5 (-110)
Vikings total points: 24.5 (Over -110/Under -120)
Rams total points: 22.5 (Over -125/Under -105)
The props
Passing
Sam Darnold total passing yards: 249.5 (Over +100/Under -130)
Darnold total passing TDs: 1.5 (Over -125/Under -105)
Matthew Stafford total passing yards: 249.5 (Over +100/Under -130)
Stafford total passing TDs: 1.5 (Over +115/Under -145)
Rushing
Aaron Jones total rushing yards: 69.5 (Over -110/Under -120)
Kyren Williams total rushing yards: 69.5 (Over -135/Under -105)
Tyson Chandler total rushing yards: 19.5 (Over -130/Under +100)
Receiving
Justin Jefferson total receiving yards: 89.5 (Over -110/Under -120)
Cooper Kupp total receiving yards: 69.5 (Over -105/Under -125)
Jordan Addison total receiving yards: 44.5 (Over -105/Under -125)
Tutu Atwell total receiving yards: 34.5 (Over +100/Under -130)
Jalen Nailor total receiving yards: 24.5 (Over -130/Under +100)
Aaron Jones total receiving yards: 24.5 (Over -120/Under -110)
Eric Moody's favorite picks
Matthew Stafford over 0.5 interceptions (-105)
The offensive line can make or break an NFL offense. The Vikings' defensive front is ranked 13th in pass rush win rate, while the Rams' offensive line sits at 23rd in pass block win rate. Stafford hasn't fared well under pressure or when blitzed, and that's something Minnesota should exploit. Stafford thrown a pick in each of his last three games, and the Vikings' defense leads the league with 11 interceptions. This sets up a perfect storm for Minnesota to capitalize.
Aaron Jones over 97.5 total rushing + receiving yards (-120)
Jones turned 17 touches into 116 total yards last week against the Lions, showing he's back to form following his hamstring injury suffered in Week 5 against the New York Jets. Jones has cleared this yardage mark in four of his six games. Meanwhile, the Rams allow the fifth-most rushing yards per game to running backs. They also give up 8.3 yards per reception to the position. That's particularly notable because Jones is averaging 3.8 targets per game.
Cooper Kupp to record 25+ receiving yards in each half (+110)
This game has a high point total and a close spread, suggesting a competitive, high-scoring matchup. Kupp and Stafford have great chemistry. The Rams face a defense ranked sixth in run stop win rate, so the passing game should be a focus for Los Angeles. Kupp has averaged 94.6 receiving yards per game with Stafford since 2021. So, 25+ yards in each half looks like a solid bet.
Betting trends
Courtesy ESPN Stats & Information
The Vikings are 5-1 ATS this season while the Rams are 1-5 ATS.
The Rams are 0-3 ATS in their past three games.
The Vikings are 10-2 ATS in their past 12 road games (9-3 ATS since start of last season).
Road favorites are 24-13 ATS this season, including 16-2 ATS over the last three weeks.
The Rams are 9-4-2 ATS in home prime-time games under Sean McVay.
NFC North teams are 17-4 ATS in nondivision games.
Road favorites are 17-8 ATS in Thursday night games since 2020. Unders are 17-8 in those games.
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