Rams vs. Vikings prediction: NFL wild-card round picks, odds, best bets

Post sports betting writer Dylan Svoboda is in his first season in the NFL Bettor’s Guide. I’m not going to let one bad game from quarterback Sam Darnold make me doubt the Vikings now.From Week 1 on, Minnesota was one of the top teams in football, both statistically and record-wise.Rather than heading back to SoFi Stadium to play the Rams as one of two road favorites during this weekend’s wild-card slate, the game has been moved to Arizona because of the wildfires in the L.A.

area.There goes one of the Rams’ only advantages in this contest. Matthew Stafford and Co.secured the surprisingly weak NFC West with a strong finish to the season, but it hasn’t been pretty — eking out wins over non-playoff teams such as the Cardinals, 49ers, Jets and Saints.

Their defense carried them during most of those games, but again, the competition was nowhere as close to as strong as they’ll see on Monday night.Aside from their 44-42 win over the Bills, their star-studded offense hasn’t looked so exceptional of late.

Cooper Kupp has basically disappeared in recent weeks, unnerving Los Angeles fans and fantasy owners alike.Rams boosters will point to their Week 8 win over the Vikings — making them the only team besides the Lions to take them down — but I’m chalking that up to another happenstance.

The Vikings have been better on both sides of the ball all season otherwise.Take the “road” favorites in the NFL’s final 2024 Wild Card Round game. Last week: 0-2 Chiefs (L), Buccaneers (L) Season: 7-13.Dylan Svoboda is a versatile writer and analyst across many sports.

He’s particularly knowledgeable about the big three — MLB, the NFL and the NBA....