There may not be two teams in the NFL that have had more roller coaster-type seasons than Minnesota and Los Angeles. The Vikings had a tough start, then won four out of five but lost Kirk Cousins to an achilles injury. In the first contest without Cousins, the Vikings’ backup, Jaren Hall, did not play much, suffering a concussion. Joshua came in to lead the team to a win having only been with the Vikings for a few days.
The Raiders have dealt with quarterback injuries, public displeasure with their head coach and even players publicly upset with Josh McDaniels. That and a bad start led to McDaniels’ midseason firing and interim coach Antonio Pierce taking over. The Raiders won two straight from that point but now have lost their last two.
The Raiders are playing much better under Pierce, though, covering three of four against the spread and look a lot sharper even in losses. If Las Vegas can finish strong, they even have a chance to earn a wild card playoff berth. The Vikings are 7-5 against the spread this season and have covered in three of four games since Cousins’ season-ending injury.
This one is crucial for both teams fighting for playoff spots. Let’s look at the betting news, odds and props for the Vikings vs. Raiders, and we will also give you a prediction for the matchup.
Live odds for Vikings vs. Raiders
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Minnesota Vikings betting news
Joshua Dobbs was a superhero and stole NFL headlines after his trade to Minnesota, leading the team to victory just a few days after getting to town. He led the Vikings to another win the following week behind a great performance from the journeyman quarterback.
The last two games have not been as pretty, as the Vikings have lost two in a row. Dobbs had four interceptions in the last game and looked nothing like he did in his first three weeks in Minnesota. The bye week could not come at a better time for the Vikings, and Dobbs, for the first time since his arrival, likely had a chance to get deep into film study and the playbook without worrying about game prep.
Dobbs and the Vikings will also benefit from reinforcements for their matchup against the Raiders this week. All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson has not played since before Cousins season ending injury. Dobbs has not played with Jefferson at his disposal yet, which should help Minnesota’s offense immensely.
Before his hamstring injury, Jefferson was having a typical season, averaging seven receptions and 114 yards receiving per game. His absence allowed rookie wide receiver Jordan Addison to get more involved, and he took full advantage. Addison had four touchdowns while averaging five receptions and 62 receiving yards in the last seven games.
The breakout play of Addison, All-Pro tight end T.J. Hockenson and the return of Justin Jefferson should give Dobbs the best receiving group he has ever played with. Even without Cousins, the Vikings have a great chance to make the playoffs but will need Dobbs to play like he did to start his time in Minnesota, not how he did in the Vikings’ last time on the field against Chicago.
Las Vegas Raiders betting news
The Raiders have been a different team since Antonio Pierce took over four games ago. While Las Vegas is only 2-2, there is a notable difference in the way they play, the execution and especially the vibes coming from players in the locker room. Part of the issue is simply the talent, as the Raiders’ last two opponents were among the best teams in the NFL.
The Raiders matchup this week is a much more level playing field against Minnesota. At 6-7, the Raiders still have a chance to make the playoffs, but a win this week is crucial. The Raiders have five games left, and with the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City the next two opponents on the schedule, a loss this week will leave no room for error in their last four weeks.
To pull off an upset win over the Vikings, a lot will be on the shoulders of rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell. Even with Jimmy Garoppolo healthy again, O’Connell has remained the starting quarterback for Las Vegas. The fourth-round pick has been OK at times and been pretty bad at times. He only has four touchdown passes in six games and averages less than 200 passing yards per game.
The Raiders are starting to trust him more, though, allowing him to throw the ball more over the last two weeks. He helped the Raiders get out to an early lead over the Chiefs last week before the offense stalled, only scoring three points after two touchdowns and a missed field goal during the Raiders’ first three drives.
The Raiders will also try to help their rookie quarterback by leaning on running back Josh Jacobs, who has had his best four-game stretch since the coaching change. Jacobs averaged 51 rushing yards in the first eight games and only three touchdowns. He has averaged 91 yards rushing and three touchdowns in his last four games.
Vikings vs. Raiders player props bets at FanDuel Sportsbook
Aidan O’Connell prop bets
- 228.5 passing yards OVER (-114) / UNDER (-114)
Hunter Renfrow prop bets
- 23.5 receiving yards OVER (-114) / UNDER (-114)
Davante Adams prop bets
- 71.5 receiving yards OVER (-114) / UNDER (-114)
Jakobi Meyers prop bets
- 44.5 receiving yards OVER (-114) / UNDER (-114)
Michael Meyer prop bets
- 23.5 receiving yards OVER (-114) / UNDER (-114)
Josh Jacobs prop bets
- 76.5 rushing yards OVER (-114) / UNDER (-114)
Vikings vs. Raiders prediction: QB play will be key, but Jefferson’s return powers Vikings to victory
The Vikings vs. Raiders matchup comes down to quarterback play. Talent-wise, the matchup is pretty even across the board. Dobbs and O’Connell have had good moments, but neither has been consistent this season. Dobbs has more weapons with the return of Justin Jefferson, and the veteran quarterback has shown a higher ceiling than O’Connell at this point in their careers, which is why we like Minnesota in this matchup.
Pick: Vikings
