Vikings vs Rams Picks & Predictions and Picks for TNF: Stafford Singes Minnesota Stoppers

The Rams have been plagued by injuries this year, affecting Matthew Stafford's play significantly. But Jason Logan's NFL picks see L.A. getting healthier and Stafford boosting his season-long stats this Thursday night.

Jason Logan: Senior Betting Analyst at Covers
Jason Logan • Senior Betting Analyst
Oct 23, 2024 • 10:18 ET • 4 min read

NFL

Match starts: 30 hrs
LA
21 %
MIN
79 %
EXPERT PICK - PROP
Matthew Stafford o235.5 Passing Yards (-113) Matthew Stafford o235.5 Passing Yards (-113)
Read Analysis
Matthew Stafford Los Angeles Rams NFL
Photo By - Imagn Images

Thursday Night Football goes “Hollywood” when the Minnesota Vikings visit the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium.

Los Angeles is trying to keep its head above water in this mid-week game and turns to veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford to weather Minnesota’s defensive storm. Luckily, Stafford isn’t alone and could have plenty of backup for a change in this primetime showdown.

I run down the spread, total, and player prop odds for Thursday Night Football, giving my best Vikings vs. Rams predictions and NFL picks for October 24.

Make sure to also check out our favorite Vikings vs. Rams props before placing your bets!

Vikings vs Rams TNF prediction

My best bet
Matthew Stafford Over 235.5 passing yards (-113 at FanDuel)

My analysis

Los Angeles Rams veteran QB Matthew Stafford has been in survival mode for the majority of L.A.’s games this season. 

With injuries to his receiving corps and offensive line, the 36-year-old has taken plenty of punishment while watching his production dwindle. However, Stafford is getting some of those bodies back in Week 8, including WR Cooper Kupp.

Kupp is expected to return to the lineup for the first time since suffering an injury in Week 2 and could be joined by offensive lineman Joe Noteboom, who arrives just in time to face a vaunted Minnesota Vikings pass rush.

Minnesota’s blitz-happy schemes are cooking up the highest pressure rate in the NFL, but this pass defense has shown cracks over the past three outings, giving up yardage totals of 389, 244, and 280 — third-most in the league over the past three games.

The Vikings boasted the lowest EPA per dropback in the opening three weeks of play, but that advanced metric has dipped to No. 12 since Week 4 with those three rival QB posting a collective success rate per dropback of 43.8% compared to 37.3% to start the schedule.

Due to those injuries to top receivers and cluster ailments to the o-line, Stafford’s 2024 advanced stats aren’t great when you measure him against pass pressure and blitzing attacks. However, for his career, the 16-year veteran has been one of the best quarterbacks at burning the blitz, including ranking No. 13 at PFF versus extra pass rusher in 2023.

Considering those returnees on offense, Minnesota’s dominant run defense (No. 1 in EPA allowed per handoff), and a game-script that has Los Angeles playing from behind (indoors on the fast track of SoFi Stadium), Stafford player projections are positive.

Stafford’s passing yard total for Thursday Night Football is set at 235.5 Over/Under — a bar he’s surpassed only twice all year. Forecasts all come in above that current Over/Under prop and range from 238 to 262 yards passing from the Rams quarterback, with my number at 246 yards through the air.

Vikings vs Rams TNF same-game parlay

Matthew Stafford 225+ passing yards

Cooper Kupp 60+ receiving yards

Justin Jefferson 6+ receptions

Stafford has the healthiest offense he’s had around him in a long time. Projections all sit north of 235 yards passing.

Kupp is back in the mix and models call for 60 or more yards in his first game back since Week 2.

Justin Jefferson is forecasted to have six or more catches against L.A. and has had at least six receptions in four straight games.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

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Vikings vs Rams odds

Vikings vs Rams live odds

Vikings vs Rams opening odds

  • Spread: Minnesota -3 | Los Angeles +3
  • Moneyline: Minnesota -164 | Los Angeles +138
  • Over/Under: Over 45.5 | Under 45.5

Odds courtesy of FanDuel

Vikings vs Rams spread and Over/Under analysis

  • Minnesota opened between -3 and -3.5 for Thursday Night Football and the line has bounced around that key number in the first few days of action.
  • According to Covers Consensus, 80% of spread picks are on the Vikings.
  • The Over/Under total opened at 46.5 and has climbed to 48.5 O/U with the Rams getting some important pieces back on offense and the Vikings defense showing holes versus the pass.
  • Covers Consensus shows 53% of O/U picks on the Over.

Vikings vs Rams betting trend to know

The Rams have been regular season home underdogs just 12 times under head coach Sean McVay. Los Angeles is 6-6 ATS in as a pup in those homestands but has gone 8-4 Over/Under in those spots. Find more NFL betting trends for Vikings vs. Rams.

Vikings vs Rams game info

Location: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
Date: Thursday, 10-24-2024
Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. ET
TV: Amazon Prime

Vikings vs Rams latest injuries

Vikings vs Rams weather

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Jason Logan Senior Industry Analyst Covers.com
Senior Betting Analyst

In his 20 years with Covers, lead NFL betting analyst “JLo” has seen it all and bet it all. Through the wild west of early Internet gambling to lobbying for legalized sports betting to our brave new wagering world, Jason has been a consistent source of actionable info and entertainment for squares and sharps alike.

Since joining the Covers team back in 2005, he’s honed his handicapping skills to provide audiences with the most thorough insights, blending traditional capping methods with advanced modelling and predictive analysis. Jason has studied the ins and outs of the sports betting business, learning from some of the most successful gamblers in the industry and the biggest sportsbook operators on the planet.

He is under center for Covers during NFL season as our top NFL expert, taking the points in his infamous “NFL Underdogs” column and representing the Covers Community at the Super Bowl. While he lives for football season, Jason’s first love is basketball and that shows in his in-depth NBA, NCAA, and WNBA betting breakdowns.

On top of being a mainstay in media from coast to coast – WPIX, PHL17, Fox 5 San Diego, WGNO, TSN, SportsNet, ESPN Radio – he’s had his analysis featured in USA Today, MSNBC, ESPN, the Wall Street Journal, CBS, Bloomberg, the L.A. Times, the New York Times and other major publications. You can also find JLo stuffing all the top picks and predictions he can into 10 minutes as the host of Covers’ flagship podcast, The Sharp 600.

His best advice for bettors new and old is “Handicapping isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ process. The impact and importance of information varies from bet to bet. Treat each wager different than the last.”

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