Minnesota Vikings vs. Carolina Panthers 10/1/23 NFL Week 4 Odds, Picks, and Predictions

Minnesota vs Los Angeles Rams Prediction 1/13/2025 NFL Picks

by

Minnesota vs Los Angeles Rams Prediction

Minnesota vs Los Angeles Rams Game Information

Story: Minnesota vs Los Angeles Rams Prediction 1/13/2025 NFL Picks
What: NFC Wild Card Playoffs
When: Monday, January 13, 2025 at 8:00 EST/5:00 PST
Where: State Farm Stadium (Tifway 419 Bermuda Grass), Glendale, Arizona
Minnesota vs LA Rams Line: Vikings -3
Total: 47.5
TV: ABC, ESPN, ESPN+

Minnesota vs Los Angeles Preview

The third and final NFC Wild Card game sees the Vikings (14-3, 6-2 on Road) facing the Los Angeles Rams (10-7, 5-4 at Home) at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on Monday night in a game moved from Los Angeles due to the wildfires this week. The NFC North’s Vikings qualified as the No. 5 Wild Card seed while the No. 4-seeded Rams won the NFC West. After the Wild Card Round, all of the teams will be reseeded. DraftKings has the Vikings priced at 16/1 to win the Super Bowl with the Rams at 45/1 longshots. Super Bowl LIX will kick off on Sunday, February 9 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana (FOX, 6:30 EST/3:30 PST) with the AFC Champions meeting the NFC Champions.

 

In their last 5 games, the Vikings went 4-1, beating the Falcons by 21 (42-21), the Bears by 18 (30-12), at the Seahawks by 3 (27-24), and vs the Packers by 2 (27-25) before losing at the Lions by 22 in Week 18 in their biggest game of the season (31-9). In their last 5, the Rams are 4-1, winning 4 straight against the Bills by 2 (44-42), the 49ers by 6 (12-6), at the Jets by 10 (19-9), vs the Cardinals by 4 (13-9), and then losing to the Seahawks by 5 in their last game (30-25). Minnesota is priced at +750 to win the NFC Championship Game with the Rams at 17/1. The Lions (+110) and Philadelphia are the Favorites (3/1) with Green Bay and Tampa Bay at 12/1 and Washington at 17/1.

Minnesota Wondering What Sam Darnold it Will Get Here

Minnesota (11-5-1 ATS, 7-10-0 O/U) has been one of the most surprising teams in the NFL, but for the Vikings (-150 Moneyline) to survive in the top-heavy NFC North, it meant having to win enough games out of division to get to these Playoffs, and even though they blew a chance at stealing the division from the Lions, the Purple People Eaters are here and now get the benefit of playing at a Neutral Site with the venue changed from the LA fires. Minnesota (25.4 PPG, #9) is led by QB Sam Darnold (4,319 Passing yards, 35 TD, 60.1 QBR), and as goes, so go the Vikings who allow just 19.5 PPG (#5) heading into this NFC Playoffs game.

 

RB Aaron Jones (1,138 Rushing yards, 5 TD) leads the Vikings Rushing attack (109.1 PPG, Tied-#19) while veteran and future Hall of Fame WR Justin Jefferson (103 Receptions, 1,533 Receiving yards, 10 TD) is the primary Receiver in the Minnesota Passing attack (237.8 YPG, #6) with WRs Jordan Addison (875 Receiving yards, 9 TD) and Jalen Nailor (14.8 YPC, 6 TD) and TE TJ Hockenson (455 Receiving yards) Darnold’s also key skill guys. The Vikings have DT Taki Taimani (Ankle) returning from IR, with RB Jones (Quads) and LB Pat Jones II (Knee) both listed as Questionable. Expect both to play. Rookie QB JJ McCarthy (Right Knee) has been on the IR since November 13. All 3 of Minnesota’s Losses were to Playoff teams (Lions 2x, Rams).

Minnesota Vikings Betting Trends

  • The Vikings lost at Los Angeles in Week 8 (30-20)
  • Minnesota is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games overall (Lost last)
  • The Vikings are 6-3-1 ATS in their last 10 games
  • The Vikings are 4-1-0 ATS in their last 5 games
  • Minnesota is 2-2-1 ATS in the last 5 Road games
  • The Vikings are 0-3-0 SU in their last 3 vs the Rams

Rams Stay Underdogs, Line Rises to 2.5 with Site Move

Los Angeles (9-8-0 ATS, 8-9-0 O/U) almost became Favorites at some sportsbooks here earlier in the week, but after the wildfires and Site move from Los Angeles (Inglewood) to Phoenix (Glendale), this one went (Minnesota minus) 2.5 with a possible 3 on the horizon after the announcement of the move. The Rams (+125 Moneyline) are a team nobody ever wants to see in the Playoffs, but it’s hard not to think that this natural catastrophe has crept into the minds of these athletes who have homes and lives in that great and huge (#2) American city. Los Angeles started the season off at 1-4, then went 9-3 the rest of the way to win the NFC North and earn this spot in the NFC Wild Card Round Playoffs.

 

The Rams are led by QB Matt Stafford (3,762 Passing yards, 20 TD, 8 Interceptions), RB Kyren Williams (1,299 Rushing yards, 14 TD), WR Puka Nacua (990 Receiving yards, 3 TD, 12.5 YPC) and WR Cooper Kupp (710 Receiving yards, 6 TD, 10.6 YPC) and this team averages 21.6 PPG (#20) and allows 22.7 PPG (#17), something rare (a negative Point Differential) for a division winner as well as a Playoff team. Los Angeles averages 227.5 Passing Yards Per game (#100),103.8 Rushing Yards Per Game (#24), and have a +0.4 PG TO Margin). Minnesota is at +0.7 (Tied #3).

Los Angeles Rams Betting Trends

  • Los Angeles is 7-3-0 SU in its last 10 games overall
  • The Rams are 5-1-0 SU/ATS in their last 6 games
  • Los Angeles has held 3 of its last 4 opponents to 9 Points or less
  • The Rams are 2-0-0 SU/ATS the last 2 vs the Vikings
  • The Under is 3-1-0 in the last 4 Rams games
  • The Over is 3-0-0 in the last 3 series meetings

Minnesota vs Los Angeles Rams Prediction

Despite the fact that the Rams have won 3 SU (and covered 2 ATS) in the last 3 series meetings, it was all Vikings before that winning 5 straight times. Minnesota is 5-4 SU and 6-3-0 ATS in the last 9 series meetings with the Over 6-3-0 and cashing the last 3 times (50, 53, and 69 points scored. Even with Minnesota having a strong Defense, expect Los Angeles to score here with Williams always good for a TD or 2 on the ground and two of the best WRs in the game (and WR Tutu Atwell) probably good for a couple combined themselves. The Rams scored 30 points in the first meeting and had 386 Total Yards and a mind-boggling 26 First Downs.

 

This Minnesota vs Los Angeles Rams NFL pick is on the Total going Over on the Hybrid grass like it did in Week 8 at a Neutral Site with two Pass-happy QBs in Darnold and Stafford. With so many talented WRs out there and two solid RBs (Jones and Williams) and so much at stake, the Pace on this should be a little faster and possibly evolve into a track meet, especially in the Second Half. There were 28 points scored in the First Half of their first meeting (LAR 14 MIN 14) with Kupp and Nacua back from their Injuries.

Kevin’s Prediction: Vikings-Rams Over 47.5