Get ready for the Vikings vs. Rams showdown! Check out our top Same Game Parlay picks and NFL lines to maximize your betting potential.
The Minnesota Vikings look to get back in the win column when they visit the Los Angeles Rams in the Week 8 edition of Thursday Night Football. The Lions suffered their first loss of the season falling to Detroit, 31-29, in a matchup of the NFC’s top teams. A slim 1-point favorite at the sportsbook over their division rival, the Vikings also failed to cover the spread for the first time after five consecutive payouts. The Rams ended a two-game skid by beating Las Vegas, 20-15, but they’ve struggled offensively scoring more than 20 points in a game just once. It isn’t surprising to see Minnesota as a 3-point road favorite, but the total of 48 seems high.
Vikings at Rams NFL Odds
Minnesota Vikings -3 / ML -153
Los Angeles Rams +3 / ML +137
Over / Under 48
Vikings at Rams Same Game Parlay Picks
Rams +3
Vikings / Rams OVER 48
The Vikings and Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford are quite familiar with each other. Stafford started 21 games against Minnesota during his time in the NFC North with the Lions, though he went just 8-13 in those games. And it’s been a strange season for Stafford and the Rams offense scoring more than 20 points in just one game while ranking 20th in total offense and 19th in yards per play. It’s hard to imagine Stafford having a big game against even an average defense, but the unit should be boosted by the return of Cooper Kupp.
Without Kupp and Puka Nacua for most of the year the passing game has faltered. Nacua set a rookie record for receptions and receiving yards last year but hasn’t played since sustaining a knee injury in the season opener. He’s expected back soon but not in time for this contest. All signs point to Kupp returning for this game after missing the previous four with an ankle injury giving LA one of its biggest weapons in the lineup. If anything good came from the injuries it’s that Tutu Atwell, Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson stepped into a bigger role giving Stafford options when his top two receivers return.
This is a difficult spot for the Vikings who must overcome a heartbreaking loss to Detroit and travel to the West Coast on a short week. Taking all that into consideration it might be wise to take the home team and the points. Few people expected the Vikings to be in this position, having won five of their first six games and tied with the Lions for the best record in the NFC. The quarterback situation was in flux during training camp with an injury to J.J. McCarthy essentially handing the job to Sam Darnold.
Having a career year so far Darnold has exceeded everyone’s expectations, and I’m not sure he can be trusted going forward since his career has been a mess. Then again maybe he just needed the right situation, and Minnesota appears to be it. The Vikings have scored more than 20 points in every game and are the sixth highest scoring team in the NFL. Darnold was 22 of 27 for 259 yards last week against Detroit and has completed 66.5 percent of his passes with 12 TDs for the year.
I had a winning NFL same game parlay in last week’s Minnesota game backing the Lions +2.5 and OVER 49.5. It looked like the Vikings were going to get the win on a defensive score with less than six minutes to play, but the Lions got one last crack and cashed in a game-winning field goal with 15 ticks on the clock for a 31-29 victory. Even before the final field goal I had a winning ticket so the kick didn’t affect the outcome. With a potential letdown by the Vikings and the Rams getting Kupp back, I think points will be scored and the Rams cover the spread.
