Vikings vs. Rams Point Spread: NFL Week 8 Odds, Prediction
Minnesota is -3 on the NFL odds with a total of 46.5.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Sometimes, it’s so easy to see how much of a difference a good head coach can make in the NFL. Quarterback Sam Darnold was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft by the New York Jets but was a mega-bust there in large part due to poor coaching. However, he got to learn under 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan as a backup in San Francisco last year and looks like a completely different guy in 2024 in his first season with Minnesota and another highly regarded head coach in Kevin O’Connell.
Darnold only signed a one-year deal this offseason with Minnesota to serve as a bridge quarterback to JJ McCarthy, who was chosen No. 10 overall in this year’s draft out of Michigan. But McCarthy suffered a season-ending injury during camp and Darnold has thrived. If this continues, he’ll get paid big money this offseason by some team even if not the Vikings.
Los Angeles is probably looking at its second losing season in the past three since winning the Super Bowl following the 2021 campaign. The NFL trade deadline is approaching, and the Rams could be sellers.
Including seven playoff matchups and the Rams’ time in St. Louis, the Vikings lead the all-time series 27-18-2. Los Angeles has won the past two, however, with the most recent matchup in the Twin Cities three years ago and a 30-23 Rams victory.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings had been the NFC’s final unbeaten team but lost out of their bye week on Sunday, 31-29 at home to Detroit, which moved into a first-place tie in the NFC North with Minnesota. That was a very entertaining game where it felt like the team with the ball last would win, and the Lions’ Jake Bates hit the winning 44-yard field goal with 15 seconds remaining. The 31 points allowed for the Vikings was a season high. They trailed for about 33 minutes Sunday after trailing for less than four total minutes in their first five games. Minnesota did lead 10-0 after a quarter and has now outscored foes 58-3 in the first quarter this season, the fourth-best point differential in that quarter through the first six games of a season since 1991. Inside linebacker Blake Cashman, who calls the defensive plays, was inactive and obviously it will be a challenge for him to play on a quick turnaround. Pro Bowl tight end TJ Hockenson has yet to play this season off a knee issue but might debut Thursday. The Vikings are 5-1 ATS in their past six games.
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams were hoping to get receiver and former Offensive Player of the Year Cooper Kupp back from injury on Sunday against the Raiders with Los Angeles out of its bye week. That didn’t happen, but the Rams snapped a two-game skid with a 20-15 victory behind two TD rushes from Kyren Williams. It was his ninth straight game with at least one rushing TD, the second-longest streak in Rams history (Greg Bell 10 in a row from 1988-89) and longest active in the NFL. The offence managed only 259 yards, but the defence forced four turnovers – all 20 points scored came off turnovers. That defence had just four takeaways in the first five games combined. Coach Sean McVay did say after that he expects Kupp, the Super Bowl 56 MVP, to play Thursday night. The Rams are 1-5 ATS in their past six games.
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