The final game of the Wild Card weekend kicks off tonight at 8 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN). We have expert predictions for you for the Vikings vs. Rams matchup.
Minnesota goes into tonight's game as a 2.5-point favorite to beat Los Angeles in a game that was moved to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona due to the wildfires in California. The Vikings have slim odds of winning the Super Bowl, too, despite their loss to the Rams in Week 8.
Nevertheless, it is Los Angeles that features prominently in our NFL playoff predictions and Super Bowl predictions as it tries to survive today as the clear underdog.
Here are our top game predictions, player predictions and touchdown predictions for tonight's contest, rounding out our Wild Card Weekend predictions.
Expert predictions for Vikings vs. Rams: NFL Wild Card Weekend
Odds at the best sites taking bets on NFL games; confidence on a scale of 1 to 5 stars.
Against the Spread: Vikings -2.5 (-110 via BetMGM) vs. Rams ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Player's Choice: Matthew Stafford over 239.5 passing yards (-110 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Touchdown Prediction: Cooper Kupp will score a touchdown (+175 on FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Don't miss Gary Pearson's Vikings vs. Rams betting odds for a chance to earn +516!
Best predictions for the Vikings vs. Rams matchup
Vikings will overcome the spread: -2.5 ⭐⭐
Best odds: -110 via BetMGM | Estimated Probability: 52.38%
The NFC North became the first division in NFL history to produce a team with 14 wins that didn't win the division, and the second team to get a wild card, the 11-win Packers.
The division has shown its dominance over the rest of the league, going 33-11 SU and covering the spread in 30 of 44 games against non-division opponents.
History also suggests Minnesota is in line to win. The Vikings had their nine-game winning streak snapped last week. Each of the four previous teams that had a winning streak of seven or more games end just before the playoffs began have won in the first round.
I'm making this bet at BetMGM, as it's one of the best sports betting sites to bet the standard -110 on favorites (instead of -120 elsewhere). You can also use our exclusive BetMGM bonus code, SBRBONUS1550, which offers up to $1,500 in bonus bets if your first bet loses.
Vikings vs Rams matchup prediction from Mike Spector.
Matthew Stafford over 239.5 passing yards ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Best Odds: -110 via bet365 | Estimated Probability: 52.38%
Stafford racked up 279 yards and four touchdowns when these two teams faced off for the first time this season. While there is no guarantee that Stafford will have the same success in this matchup, the Vikings defense hasn't gotten much better since that meeting.
The Vikings finished the year allowing 242.0 yards per game, which is fifth worst in the league. Stafford has struggled lately, gaining less than 200 yards in four of his last five games, but the Rams won all of those meetings by relying on their defense.
The Vikings have scored an average of 25.4 points per game this year, so the Rams will need more offensive play to win. Bet365 not only offers the lowest total, but also offers the best price. Caesars, on the other hand, has set the total two yards higher and offers odds of -125 on a higher total.
Philip Wood's odds for the Vikings vs. Rams matchup.
Cooper Kupp will score a touchdown ⭐⭐⭐⭐.
Best Odds: +175 on FanDuel | Estimated Odds: 36.36%
Although Kuepp lagged far behind Puk Nakua in almost every key statistical category this season, he finished the year with twice as many touchdowns. Despite scoring just once in his last five games, Kupp still finished the year with six touchdowns, one of which was caught against the Vikings.
Even though Kupp has more touchdowns than Nacua, the price on Nacua scoring today is in the +100 to +115 range. While Kapp is being given a +155 to +175 on Kapp. If you have to choose between these two options, it's better to take Kupp, who will get into the end zone.
The Vikings give up a lot of yards passing, but they are in the top half of the league in terms of passing touchdowns. They gave up four points to the Rams early in the season, and they've allowed 1.7 per game in their last three games.
We're also backing another star receiver to score tonight with our Justin Jefferson prediction.
Vikings vs. Rams matchup information
When: Monday, Jan. 13
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
Where: State Farm Stadium (Glendale, Arizona)
How to watch: ABC/ESPN
Weather: Indoors:
Favorite: Vikings -2.5 (-110 via BetMGM)
