Week 8 of Thursday Night Football features 3-3 Minnesota taking on 4-2 LA. SBR's Gary Pearson breaks down the matchup in his Vikings vs Chargers prediction:
Spread prediction: Chargers -3 (-120 via FanDuel)
"Backing the Chargers to win by at least four points boils down to having more confidence in Justin Herbert than whoever Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell throws under center."
Over/Under pick (Best Bet): Under 44.5 (-108 via DraftKings)
"Carson Wentz and J.J. McCarthy are listed as questionable, both dealing with injuries. Initial reports suggested McCarthy will need another week, while Wentz is dealing with a shoulder issue.
The more probable outcome is that Wentz will line up under center. That won't fill Vikings fans with confidence, as, according to PFF, he has the worst rating of any quarterback with at least four starts. While he's only started two games, McCarthy's rating is even worse.
The Chargers' defense has been terrible over the last three weeks, conceding an average of 30.7 points per game. However, the Vikings offense isn't any better, averaging 18.8 points per game if you exclude the 48-point outlier against the lowly Cincinnati Bengals.
They have the sixth-worst offensive DVOA and haven't scored more than 22 points in three games.
Wentz has thrown four picks in the last three games, two of which to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 6, where he also fumbled. Meanwhile, Herbert has struggled to cope with his makeshift offensive line. He tossed six interceptions in the last five games and has been sacked 20 times overall, tied for the fifth-most.
That's an ominous thought against a Minnesota Vikings team with the second-highest blitz rate (38.9%)."
Who are you backing on Thursday night? Comment below!
Spread prediction: Chargers -3 (-120 via FanDuel)
"Backing the Chargers to win by at least four points boils down to having more confidence in Justin Herbert than whoever Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell throws under center."
Over/Under pick (Best Bet): Under 44.5 (-108 via DraftKings)
"Carson Wentz and J.J. McCarthy are listed as questionable, both dealing with injuries. Initial reports suggested McCarthy will need another week, while Wentz is dealing with a shoulder issue.
The more probable outcome is that Wentz will line up under center. That won't fill Vikings fans with confidence, as, according to PFF, he has the worst rating of any quarterback with at least four starts. While he's only started two games, McCarthy's rating is even worse.
The Chargers' defense has been terrible over the last three weeks, conceding an average of 30.7 points per game. However, the Vikings offense isn't any better, averaging 18.8 points per game if you exclude the 48-point outlier against the lowly Cincinnati Bengals.
They have the sixth-worst offensive DVOA and haven't scored more than 22 points in three games.
Wentz has thrown four picks in the last three games, two of which to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 6, where he also fumbled. Meanwhile, Herbert has struggled to cope with his makeshift offensive line. He tossed six interceptions in the last five games and has been sacked 20 times overall, tied for the fifth-most.
That's an ominous thought against a Minnesota Vikings team with the second-highest blitz rate (38.9%)."
Who are you backing on Thursday night? Comment below!