Minnesota Vikings vs Los Angeles Rams Picks and Odds Week 16

Minnesota Vikings vs Los Angeles Rams Betting Preview

WagerTalk NFL handicapper Andy Lang offers his Minnesota Vikings vs Los Angeles Rams NFL Week 16 betting preview. At the time of posting, the Rams are holding steady as a 3.5-point road favorite in Minnesota, with the total sitting at 49 points.

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NFL Week 16	Betting Notes
Point Spread:	Los Angeles Rams -3.5 at Minnesota Vikings
Total:	49 Points
Game Time:	1:00pm ET / 10:00am PT on Sunday, December 26
Stadium:	US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis
TV:	FOX

Minnesota Vikings vs Los Angeles Rams Predictions

The Los Angeles Rams travel to Minnesota for a critical meeting with the Vikings at US Bank Stadium. The Rams were one of three teams that had to have their games rescheduled due to Covid protocols. The Rams scored a 20-10 home win against the Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday night.

Meanwhile the Vikings snagged a victory in Chicago over the Bears by a score of 17-9 on Monday night. Quarterback Kirk Cousins only attempted 12 passes for 87 yards in the hard fought victory. The Rams virtually have a playoff spot secured with a 99% chance to advance, while the Vikings have a 35% chance at a wild card.

Breaking news…. Dalvin Cook is out for this game due to being placed in the Covid health and safety protocol list. Since he’s unvaccinated, he won’t be eligible to return for 10 days. While it’s a huge blow to the Vikings, just imagine how fantasy football GMs feel as they compete without him in the semi-finals.

The Vikings will rely on Alexander Mattison to carry the workload in Cooks absence. They will also look to sophomore Justin Jefferson who ranks as top five receiver in the league.

Defense is usually a trademark of a Mike Zimmer team, however only three teams have allowed more passing yards than the Minnesota Vikings. While the Vikings defense kept a lid on the Bears, the explosive Rams offense present a completely different challenge.

Upgrading from Jared Goff to Matthew Stafford has elevated this Rams team, in particular Cooper Kupp. Kupp has become the most consistent wide receiver in the game. Odell Beckham Jr is getting comfortable in the offense, while wide receiver Van Jefferson has stepped up since Robert Woods was injured.

The Rams defense isn’t near the top of charts in pass or rush defense, but they have played a tough schedule. They still have dominant players like defensive lineman Aaron Donald and cornerback Jalen Ramsey.

The Rams are favored by 3.5 points with an over/under of 49. Both teams will be on short rest and that will have an effect on their performance Sunday. Both teams have similar ATS records, the Vikings are 8-6 while the Rams are 7-7.

These teams both need a victory here for playoff spots and seeding. I’m going to make the Rams -3.5 my official play. They play better defense and I trust Matthew Stafford more than Kirk Cousins.

Official Play: Los Angeles Rams -3.5

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Minnesota Vikings vs Los Angeles Rams Analysis from GoldSheet

The Rams have played to the level of the competition often this season, beating heavyweights Indy, Tampa Bay, and Arizona, but struggling as road chalk, dropping their last three in that role. LA QB Matt Stafford has been on fire the last few weeks, throwing for 295 ypg with 9 TDs and just 1 int. against the Pack, Jags, and Cards in three games previous to facing the Seahawks.

The Minnesota defense has played pretty well lately, holding last 5 foes to 378 total yards per game and the front 7 has a bit of a resemblance to those Alan Page-led defenses, holding a 41-18 sack edge over foes with the Viking OL showing major improvement over last season (Minny finished with 21 sacks of opposing QBs and saw Kirk Cousins sacked 39 times in 2020). Mike Zimmer has covered his last four chances as a dog at US Bank Stadium.

Minnesota Vikings vs Los Angeles Rams Video Preview

WagerTalk NFL handicappers Kelly Stewart, Adam Trigger and Dave Cokin offer their Minnesota Vikings vs Los Angeles Rams betting preview.

WagerTalk Live Odds Screen

WagerTalk’s live odds screen features up-to-the-minute lines from a variety of offshore and domestic sports books. Track the moneylines, point spreads, first half lines and betting percentages for all of the NFL Week 16 games, including this Minnesota Vikings vs Los Angeles Rams showdown, from your desktop or phone.

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