The Baltimore Ravens (5-2) return from a bye to host the Minnesota Vikings (3-4) at M&T Bank Stadium for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff Sunday. Below, we look at the Vikings vs. Ravens odds and lines, and make our best NFL picks, predictions and bets.
Minnesota was upset 20-16 by the QB Cooper Rush-led Dallas Cowboys at home on Sunday Night Football in Week 8 as 4-point closing favorites.
However, Minnesota tabbed head coach Mike Zimmer to run things in 2014. Since then, the Vikings are 29-20 overall following a loss and 33-16 ATS. The Vikings are 3-4 ATS and 3-4 O/U this season.
Baltimore got crushed 41-17 by the Cincinnati Bengals as 6.5-point home favorites prior to its bye in Week 7. The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for the Ravens who are 3-4 ATS and 4-3 O/U on the year.
Vikings at Ravens odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 4:30 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Vikings +205 (bet $100 to win $205) | Ravens -260 (bet $260 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Vikings +6.5 (-115) | Ravens -6.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 50.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Vikings at Ravens key injuries
Vikings
- C Garrett Bradbury (health and safety protocols) out
- DT Michael Pierce (elbow) out
- DE Danielle Hunter (pectoral) out
- LB Anthony Barr (knee) questionable
- CB Cameron Dantzler (ankle) questionable
Ravens
- RB Latavius Murray (ankle) questionable
- WR Sammy Watkins (thigh) questionable
- WR Rashod Bateman (undisclosed) questionable
- RT Patrick Mekari (ankle) questionable
- DT Brandon Williams (shoulder) questionable
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Vikings at Ravens odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Ravens 29, Vikings 24
Money line
PASS with a slight “lean” to the Vikings (+205) because I’m taking Minnesota plus the points in this game and typically will sprinkle on an underdog’s money line if I’m betting them to cover.
But, since Baltimore head coach Jim Harbaugh was hired in 2008, the Ravens are 11-4 overall following the bye week with a plus-7.9 margin of victory.
Furthermore, Minnesota’s cluster injuries to its defensive line reduce one of the significant edges the Vikings had in this matchup. Aside from a Week 7 stinker, Lamar Jackson is having an MVP-caliber season and the absence of both Pierce and Hunter will make Jackson’s life easier vs. Minnesota.
Against the spread
BET the VIKINGS +6.5 (-115) because there’s value in Minnesota coming off of a loss and fading a market that soured on the Vikings after their embarrassing primetime performance last week.
That said, it’s widely known that Vikings QB Kirk Cousins plays much worse in primetime than he does in the 1 p.m. ET window. For instance, Cousins has an 8-17 overall record in primetime games and a 43-28 overall record in early afternoon contests.
Also, these teams rank in the same ballpark in efficiency. Football Outsiders grade both teams as “B” in total efficiency and the Vikings have higher EPA/play and yards per play differentials than the Ravens.
Finally, Football Outsiders ranks the Ravens 24th in defensive DVOA and the absence of Williams hurts their run defense. After a bad offensive performance in primetime, I expect Zimmer to feed RB Dalvin Cook and test Baltimore’s run defense.
Baltimore’s bad defense leaves the backdoor wide open for the VIKINGS +6.5 (-115).
Over/Under
Slight “LEAN” to the OVER 50.5 (-105) for a tiny wager if at all because I prefer Minnesota’s spread more than the total in this contest.
But, there’s been a “sharp line move” towards the Over since the Vikings-Ravens game opened with a 49.5-point total and has been steamed up.
For me, there’s much more value in the Over since both offenses put up lackluster performances in their previous game and the injuries to Minnesota’s defense should mean Baltimore has success on offense.
Week 9 best bets
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