The Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams will wrap up the NFL wild card round on Monday Night Football. Based on the NFL odds, this is expected to be the closest playoff game, as both teams will be confident they can book their place in the divisional playoffs. The Los Angeles Rams were expected to host this game, but due to the ongoing fires, they will have to forfeit home field advantage. The Minnesota Vikings were unlucky to have to go on the road to open up the postseason with a 14-3 record and will have the additional benefit of this one being played at a neutral site. The Los Angeles Rams still have many of their pieces from their 2022 Super Bowl run, but the Vikings appear to be loaded with future NFL superstars. Will the Rams’ experience be enough to tilt the scales in their favor, or will a motivated Vikings team spoil the party? Here are the current NFL odds for the Rams vs Vikings matchup, with expert NFL picks and predictions.
Matchup: Vikings vs Rams Overview
- Teams: Minnesota Vikings vs Los Angeles Rams
- Date: Monday, January 13th, 2024
- Time: Kick-off is at 8:00 PM EST or 6:00 PM local time
- Venue: State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona
Win Probabilities
This is expected to be the closest NFL playoff game this weekend, and the win probabilities reflect that fact. The Los Angeles Rams lost home field advantage due to the recent fire outbreak in the city, and their win probability has taken a hit as a result. The playoff experience on the Rams roster ensures they still have a fighting chance with a 45.87% chance to win this game. Alternatively, the Minnesota Vikings will be looking to add to their 14-3 record and have a 54.13% chance to win.
Projected Final Score
Using expert picks and predictions combined with insights from recent NFL games, we can generate a projected final score. The projected final score for this Monday night football matchup is Minnesota Vikings 24-23 Los Angeles Rams.
Vikings vs Rams Odds
| Minnesota Vikings | Los Angeles Rams | |
| Moneyline | -155 | +120 |
| Spread | -3 | +3 |
The NFL odds have shifted dramatically since the venue of this game was changed. The Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams were perfectly balanced with -110 odds to win when the game was scheduled to take place in Los Angeles. However, the Minnesota Vikings are now -155 moneyline favorites to win on neutral ground in Arizona. The total points are 48, as both of these teams have shown they have worthy offenses capable of running up the score.
| Over 48 Points | Under 48 Points |
| -110 | -110 |
Expert Prediction: Who Wins?
Why the Vikings Can Win
The Minnesota Vikings will need to lean on their star players on offense if they are to pick up the win. Justin Jefferson had a quiet night in the season finale and is a crucial part of the Vikings offense. His 1,533 yards this year were the second most in the league, and he is the favorite target for quarterback Sam Darnold. This will be Darnold’s first career playoff start, as the impending free agent will look to show off his talent to his future potential employers.
While the Vikings will need to score points to win this game, they are favorites on the NFL odds thanks to their immaculate defense. Linebackers Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard have both had incredible seasons in Minnesota and will look to stifle the Rams’ offense. The Vikings allowed the second-fewest rushing yards this season and will find defensive success if they force the Rams into 3rd-and-longs throughout the game.
Why the Rams Can Win
The Los Angeles Rams will have plenty to play for in this one. They had their home-field advantage ripped away from them after the fires in Los Angeles escalated, and they will use that as inspiration to bring the win back home to Los Angeles. Quarterback Matthew Stafford has continued to cement his Hall of Fame career and would love nothing more than to make another deep playoff run with the Rams. He has plenty of young talent to work with on offense, as wide receiver Puka Nacua and running back Kyren Williams have both been incredibly consistent with the veteran signal caller.
The Rams will be able to win this game if they can get their run game going. The Vikings are excellent at shutting down the run and forcing teams into ‘must pass’ situations. If the Rams can get big gains on first and second down, the Vikings will be forced to load up the tackle box in response. Minnesota has a very strong defense, but their secondary has been exposed in one-on-one coverage. Stafford is a very intelligent quarterback and will almost always make the right decision when his team needs him most. The Vikings have plenty of players making their NFL playoff debut, and the veteran experience up and down the Rams roster could be enough to pull off the upset victory.
How to Make Vikings vs Rams Picks
The best way to make your free picks for the Minnesota Vikings vs Los Angeles Rams is by visiting Sportzino. The NFL against the spread odds for this matchup gives the slight edge to the Vikings, but you can make NFL predictions on totals, moneylines, and player props too. Sportzino offers up-to-date NFL odds for every playoff matchup this season and is the perfect place to make your free NFL predictions.
