Monday Night Football Wild Card Odds: Vikings vs. Rams

It wouldn’t be a Super Wild Card Weekend in the NFL Playoffs without a Monday Night Football game to cap off the action.

This year we get a really fun final game of the opening round, with the 14-3 Minnesota Vikings heading out west to battle the 10-7 Los Angeles Rams.

It was just days ago that the Vikings had a shot at the #1 seed in the entire conference, and yet here they are, traveling across the country to take on a battle tested and experienced Rams squad.

Who will win and how should you bet? I’ve got you covered from every angle in this Super Wild Card Monday Night Football betting guide.

What Channel is Monday Night Football On?

• Monday Night Football Channel: ESPN and ABC
• Monday Night Football Time: 8:15 pm ET
• Monday Night Football Announcers: Joe Buck and Troy Aikman

You can watch Monday Night Football on ESPN like always, while the legendary Joe Buck and Troy Aikman continue to call the biggest NFL primetime game of the week.

The action between the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams fires off at 8:00 pm EST and can be viewed on ESPN.

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Monday Night Football Betting

The Monday Night Football odds opened with the Rams being +110 home underdogs. The risk of backing Minnesota on a significant road trip is baked into the price, as the Vikes are mild favorites with a 1.5-point spread.

I don’t expect the lines to move much, if at all. L.A. rested all of their key starters in their season finale, making sure this MNF showdown has all of the necessary stars in play.

I’ll break down the latest Monday Night Football odds and point you to my preferred plays, but I do highly suggest using our sports betting handicapping service. Check out our free trial.

Monday Night Football Odds

Here are the latest MNF NFL odds for the Minnesota Vikings vs. Los Angeles Rams:

The Vikings are the rare road playoff favorite, but they are priced appropriately after the magical year they’ve enjoyed. They’re coming off of a down week and won’t be as rested as L.A., however.

The odds for this game otherwise look about right. One could argue that Minnesota is the far better team, but lost to the Rams by 10 points earlier this year, and they’ve been in numerous one-score affairs.

This game has a healthy 47 total, which could be a nice area to target if you’re not super comfortable betting on this thing spread or taking a winner. Both teams have capable offenses, so the Over might be the first bet I’d hammer.

You can visit the top online NFL betting sites to take advantage of any of these wagers, or read on for some interesting Vikings vs. Rams betting trends, some MNF props, and my preferred bets.

Monday Night Football Betting Trends

Before you bet on MNF this week, consider some Vikings vs. Rams betting trends:

Vikings vs. Rams Betting Trends

• Vikings are 27-19-1 in all-time series
• Rams are 3-2 in last 5 meetings
• Over is 3-2 in last 5 meetings

Minnesota Vikings Betting Trends

• Vikings are 11-5-1 ATS in 2024
• Vikings are 5-2-2 ATS as road favorite since 2023
• Under is 10-7 in 2024

Los Angeles Rams Betting Trends

• Rams are 9-8 ATS in 2024
• Rams are 5-3 ATS as home underdog since 2023
• Under is 9-8 in 2024

Monday Night Football Predictions

Ready for some Vikings vs. Rams betting picks? First, let’s analyze both team’s chances of getting a win this week:

Minnesota Vikings Outlook

The Minnesota Vikings are without a doubt the better team in this matchup. They have the far better record, and if things went a bit better for them a week ago, they might own the #1 seed in the NFC right now.

There is a lot to like about the Vikings. Brian Flores has turned their defense into a formidable unit, one that enters the playoffs ranked 5th in scoring, 2nd against the run, and 13th in sack rate. 

Minnesota has a pass funnel defense that can be had through the air, but they stuff the run and can get after the quarterback. That could make for a bad matchup for L.A., who lack efficiency on the ground and have a quarterback in Matthew Stafford who isn’t super mobile at this stage of his career.

Offensively, the Vikings are even scarier. Sam Darnold has been so good that he’s likely to win the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award, but he’s even been good enough to be thrown into conversations involving the NFL MVP.

While Darnold won’t win that hardware, he’s still been sensational, putting up 35 passing touchdowns in easily the best season of his career. He was not at his best last week, but he’s otherwise been fantastic, leading the league’s 9th best scoring offense and producing the NFL’s 6th best passing attack.

Aaron Jones gives the Vikings a dynamic option on the ground and as a receiver, too, while nobody needs a sales pitch for Justin Jefferson. The Rams did get the best of the Vikings earlier this year, but Minnesota has the trimmings of a legit NFC Championship threat.

Los Angeles Rams Outlook

We can’t rule out a Rams upset win, though. The first reason is they’re at home. Not only do they get to play host here, but the Vikings have to travel quite a bit to get to Los Angeles.

The Rams have only been a middling 5-4 at home, but this could still be a distinct advantage. That was my same logic several weeks ago when I predicted they’d beat the Buffalo Bills, and it’s something to again think about as we kick off Super Wild Card Weekend.

L.A. didn’t crack my NFL underdogs for the opening round of the playoffs, but they’re still a threat to win this game and possibly make even more noise later on. One big reason? They already took the Vikings down earlier this season and they’re well rested after sitting their key starters last week.

While true, the Rams don’t actually project all that well here. They own the league’s 20th best scoring offense and they’ve been even worse (25th) in the red-zone. They do have a top-10 passing attack with Matthew Stafford dropping dimes regularly to the likes of Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, but they are pretty one-dimensional.

Sean McVay and co. do try to remain balanced, but they are not very effective on the ground, ranking 31st in yards per rush and 24th in rushing yards per game. Their strength of taking it to the air does match up with Minnesota’s defensive weakness well, but they better handle the Vikings’ pressure up front.

Defensively, the Rams are a middling bunch. They’re just 17th in scoring and 18th in sack rate. That said, they could be a problem for Minnesota inside the 20. The Vikings had serious issues closing the deal in week 18, and L.A. does boast a classic bend-but-don’t-break defense (5th in red-zone scoring).

Who Will Win: Vikings or Rams?

This is Minnesota’s game to lose. They have been very good at finishing close contests, they have the more impactful defense, and they are more dynamic on offense.

Minnesota is the better bet to shut down the run, and they’re a slightly better bet to establish it as well. The Rams certainly are dangerous through the air and they will be at home, but I don’t think it is enough.

This game will come down to pass protection for L.A. and Minnesota’s ability to punch in touchdowns when they’re threatening near the goal-line. Ultimately, I think both factors work in their favor and this round one tilt is just a blip on their radar as they look toward a Super Bowl run.

Bet: Minnesota Vikings (-130)

Monday Night Football Prop Bets

There is more to betting on MNF than the game itself. Take advantage of some fun MNF prop bets for this Vikings vs. Rams showdown:

Will Minnesota Score on Their First Drive?

• Yes +150
• No -197

The Vikings were a disappointment in their final game of the 2024 NFL regular season. I don’t think they’ll play that poorly with their season on the line. 

Whether they score a touchdown or kick a field goal, expect them to be dialed in and put points on the board the first time they touch the ball on Monday night.

Bet: Yes +150

Minnesota Total Field Goals

• Over 1.5 (-118)
• Under 1.5 (-118)

While I like the Vikings to score on their first possession, it’s no guarantee it’s a touchdown. The Rams do have a good red-zone defense, and the Vikings did struggle in that area in their most recent outing.

On top of that, the Vikings might be a tad less aggressive this time around. They left a lot of points on the board in week 18. Don’t expect them to make that same mistake.

Bet: Over 1.5 (-118)

Best Bets for Monday Night Football

The Minnesota Vikings have serious Super Bowl aspirations. I think they’re a great bet to advance, but there’s no denying that the Rams are a tough test across the country on the road.

There are a lot of Monday Night Football wagers that look appealing, but I’ve listed my favorites:

• Over 47 (-115)
• Vikings Moneyline (-130)

I would also have a lot of interest in MNF props, but there really aren’t a bunch of player prop bets available yet. When they pop up, I’d be down for hitting the Over on Puka Nacua and Justin Jefferson wagers, as both wide receivers should be extremely involved.

For now, I’d just hammer the Over for this game and also bet on Minnesota to get the win.

Don’t feel amazing about top MNF wagers? Luckily there’s a ton out there to get excited about. Stop by our Super Wild Card NFL player props for some more betting options.

Want more primetime betting opportunities? Give our NFL predictions a look, too. Good luck this week!

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