Game Matchup
It’s one of the biggest games of the entire 2018 season this Thursday as the Minnesota Vikings visit the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams are 7-point favorites for this TNF NFL Week 4 betting matchup. They should also be your pick against the spread for this week, while the total is 49.5. The Vikings lead the series 27-16-2, including playoffs. They dominated at home last year 24-7 over Los Angeles in Week 11. They are different teams now, and this is a different location.
It is not hyperbole to say three things: These might be the two best teams in the NFC (if you forget what the Vikings did Sunday), it could be a conference title game preview, and it’s on the very short list of best Thursday night matchups ever. Also, a fourth thing: The winner could have a very important head-to-head playoff tiebreaker for home-field advantage.
Has any team been more impressive than the Rams thus far? They have won all three games by at least 12 points and are averaging 34.0 points per game. They put up 35 on Sunday in a 12-point victory over their future co-tenants, the Los Angeles Chargers. When a team has a 300-yard passer, 100-yard rusher and 100-yard receiver, it’s usually going to win. That was the case Sunday as Jared Goff threw for 354 yards and three scores, Todd Gurley rushed for 105 yards and a touchdown, and Robert Woods caught 10 balls for 104 yards and two scores.
The news wasn’t all good. Kicker Greg Zuerlein, the best in the league, sat with a groin injury and isn’t likely to play Thursday. Both starting cornerbacks, Pro Bowlers Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib, left with injuries. Their status is TBA. Still, the NFL odds still have the Rams favored, and deservedly so.
Survivor pools across America were ruined Sunday when the Vikings lost as home 17-point favorites to the Buffalo Bills – the NFL’s biggest point spread upset since Washington upset Dallas as a 17.5-point dog on December 3, 1995. And it wasn’t even close, with the Bills rolling 27-6. Minnesota was held to 292 yards and attempted just six rushes (franchise low), totaling 14 yards. Top running back Dalvin Cook missed the game with a hamstring injury so the Vikes essentially abandoned the ground game. Cook claims he’ll play Thursday.
Kirk Cousins threw it 55 times, was sacked four times and turned it over three. There’s just no question the Vikings were overlooking the previously winless Bills.
The TNF NFL Week 4 betting spread hasn’t moved yet off its opening of 7, but it might as heavy early action is on the Rams – likely partly due to how Minnesota flopped Sunday. The total has risen as many as two points at some books.
| ATS Winner | Odds |
|---|---|
| Rams | -7 |
September 24, 2018
