Two teams coming off a bye will square off this Sunday in Las Vegas, as the 6-6 Minnesota Vikings take on the 5-7 Raiders.
Both teams have a chance of making the playoffs as a wild-card team, and every game the rest of the season becomes a must-win for both sides.
Let’s dive into the odds and best bets for this matchup. The playoff race is heating up, and so is the NFL MVP battle.
Vikings vs Raiders Odds
NFL odds used for this Minnesota vs Las Vegas preview were found at Caesars Sportsbook and are current as of Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Vikings (-160) • Raiders (+135)
- Spread: Vikings -3 (-110) • Raiders +3 (-110)
- Total Points: Over 40.5 (-110) • Under 40.5 (-110)
- Implied Score: Vikings 21.75, Raiders 18.75
Vikings vs Raiders Predictions
Score Pick: Vikings 24, Raiders 20
Vikings QB Josh Dobbs had his worst game of the season against the Bears with four interceptions, but he still put the Vikings in a position to win the game late in the fourth quarter.
The Vikings’ defense has been impressive this season, restricting opponents to only 20.2 points per game. That’s why I expect them to secure a victory.
The Raiders are averaging only 16.8 points per game this season, the sixth-worst in the league. Rookie QB Aidan O’Connell has been a decent game manager, but we haven’t seen a breakout game from him yet.
Vikings vs Raiders Best Bets & Props
Vikings -3 (-110)
Caesars Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit
The Vikings are a more complete team and are better coached. Kevin O’Connell has done a great job, especially after Kirk Cousins went down with a season-ending Achilles injury.
The Vikings will get star WR Justin Jefferson back this weekend, which will provide a huge boost to their offense. The Raiders’ defense has conceded 216.8 yards in the air per game this year and an average of 290.3 in the last three games.
The Las Vegas secondary will have its hands full containing all of the dynamic pass-catching options the Vikings have, so this is my NFL bet of the day.
Vikings Over 21.5 (-110)
Caesars Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit
Minnesota has failed to score more than 21 points in the last two games, but it did go over this total in the four games prior.
The absence of Jefferson was one of the main reasons for its scoring struggles, but that should change this weekend.
Over 40.5 (-110)
Caesars Sportsbook • WAGER: 0.5 unit
This game could have sneaky shootout potential. The two teams are rested and healthy coming out of their bye weeks, which could lead to a high-scoring game. The bye also gave Dobbs another week to learn the Vikings’ offense.
Conversely, the bye allowed Aidan O’Connell to build more rapport with the Raiders’ pass catchers, especially Davante Adams.
Vikings vs Raiders Same-Game Parlay
Vikings vs Raiders SGP (+164)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 0.75 units
- Vikings Over 20.5 (-120)
- Vikings (-155)
- Alternate Over 36.5 (-188)
I like the Vikings to cover the three-point spread, but in the parlay, I’ve added the moneyline. This gives us a cushion in the event the game is closer than expected.
I’ve brought the Vikings’ team total down by one point in the event of the hook. If the Vikings score three touchdowns and make the conversions, then their points total will be 21, which is .5 more than the Over in the SGP.
