St. Louis Rams vs. Minnesota Vikings: Betting Odds, Analysis, NFL Pick

The Minnesota Vikings have been a great moneymaker so far this season, going 6-1 against the spread with a run of six covers in a row. At 5-2, they seek their sixth win in their last seven games when they host the 4-3 St. Louis Rams on Sunday afternoon.

Point Spread: The Vikings opened as 2.5-point favorites. The total was 40 early in the week.

Odds Shark Computer Pick: Vikings 23.3, Rams 18.7

Why the Rams Can Cover the Spread

The Rams are 3-1 both straight up and ATS over their last four games after dispatching the San Francisco 49ers last week 27-6, covering as 7.5-point home favorites.

St. Louis trailed 3-0 early but ended the game on a 27-3 run. The Rams gained 388 yards to the 49ers' 189 and rushed for 197 yards to San Francisco's 38, as rookie running back Todd Gurley came up with his fourth straight 100-yard performance.

Earlier this year, the Rams beat the Seattle Seahawks. A month ago, they upset the Arizona Cardinals in Phoenix. Three weeks ago, they outplayed the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, although they lost that game 24-10.

So St. Louis is proving that—on any given day—it can play with just about anybody.

Why the Vikings Can Cover the Spread

The Vikes own a three-game winning streak and a six-game ATS winning streak after coming from behind to beat the Bears in Chicago last week 23-20.

Minnesota trailed by a touchdown late, tied the game on a Teddy Bridgewater-Stefon Diggs scoring connection with just under two minutes to go and then kicked a game-winning field goal at the buzzer.

For the day, the Vikings gained 327 yards to the Bears' 305 and won the ground battle by a 147-97 margin as Adrian Peterson produced his third 100-yard effort of the season.

Minnesota has now outrushed five of its last six opponents, and that's usually a good way to win games and cover spreads in the NFL.

Smart Pick

These two teams seem evenly matched: Both can run the ball, both are getting spotty play at quarterback, and both are playing good defense. But St. Louis ranks dead last in the league in third-down conversion rate. Take the Vikes here, the home team at a short spread.

Betting Trends

• The away team is 4-0 SU and ATS in the last four games in this matchup.
• The Rams are 1-6 SU and ATS in their last seven games in Week 9.
• The Vikings are 14-3 SU in their last 17 games at home in November.

All point spread and lines data courtesy of Odds Shark. All quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line movement updates and get the free odds tracker app.