Los Angeles Chargers vs. Minnesota Vikings: Week 3 Odds, Lines, Picks & Best Bets
- Who: Los Angeles Chargers at Minnesota Vikings
- When: Sunday, Sept. 24 (Week 3)
- Time: 12:00 p.m. CT / 1:00 p.m. ET
- Where: U.S. Bank Stadium (Minneapolis, MN)
Betting Odds Summary
- Moneyline: Chargers -105, Vikings -115
- Spread: Chargers +1 (-110), Vikings -1 (-110)
- Total: Over/Under 54 (-110/-110)
Odds from BetMGM Sportsbook. Subject to change.
The Los Angeles Chargers and Minnesota Vikings were both playoff teams a year ago but are staring down the barrel of an 0-3 start as they prepare to lock horns in Minneapolis on Sunday.
This matchup is the only pick’em in Week 3 of the 2023 NFL schedule and represents the desperation both teams are dealing with. The Chargers (+3000 to win the Super Bowl) were a top-10 futures bet to start the year but have been sliding quickly. The Vikings (+8000 Super Bowl odds) won 13 games last year and are in the NFC North, which is one of the more open divisions in the league.
Here, we will react to the betting lines and discuss our favorite picks for the matchup.
Moneyline
The nearly identical moneyline on both sides shows that the oddsmakers have no real lean and are offering bettors little indication as to which side is more likely to win.
The Chargers‘ offensive numbers do not resemble those of a team that has yet to win a game. They rank fourth in yardage and sixth in points scored and have scored at least 24 points in each of their games thus far.
Both of LA’s losses have been heartbreakers late in the game. They were undone by a Tyreek Hill touchdown with less than two minutes remaining in a Week 1 defeat to the Miami Dolphins and were zapped by a Nick Folk field goal in overtime against the Tennessee Titans last week.
Similarly, the Vikings have had no issues moving the football down the field, though that has not always translated to points. They rank eighth in yards but only 18th in points, largely because they have already turned the ball over seven times.
Kirk Cousins has averaged 354 yards passing per game and is sitting on six touchdowns to just one interception, which makes Minnesota’s scoring woes even more frustrating. The Vikings traded for ex-Los Angeles Rams running back Cam Akers earlier this week to help balance their impotent running game that produced fewer yards than every team in the league through two weeks.
Both teams bear the stigma of repeatedly losing marquee matchups and being untrustworthy in major moments, which is part of what makes this matchup so intriguing. There’s only been one team in the history of the NFL to make the playoffs after a 0-3 start (the 2018 Houston Texans), so it’s not an exaggeration to say this game is a must-win for both squads.
Both teams have allowed a ton of points to their first two opponents, but LA’s defense has looked worse. Cousins is also playing better football than Herbert, and with Austin Ekeler banged up, Minnesota should be able to get a win on its home field.
Point Spread
The spread is essentially the same as the moneyline here. The -1 and +1 lines are offset by the -105 and -115 values, and the oddsmakers are unwilling to give either side any additional points of security.
Vikings bettors are better off taking the moneyline to avoid having to win by the extra point, while Chargers bettors should take the +1 spread for the extra bit of comfort. As we have seen in the past, both teams love their close, late-game endings.
There’s not much else to add regarding the spread since it’s so narrow. For what it’s worth, underdogs are 19-12-1 (61%) against the spread this season, which favors Los Angeles.
Over/Under
The Over/Under is one of the most popular markets for this matchup because of the high-powered offenses at play and because the defenses hand out points like cars at an Oprah Winfrey show.
The Over in this matchup is one of the most popular bets of the weekend, as the total has already been driven up from 51.5 to its current resting point of 54. The teams are a combined 3-1 in favor of the Over this year, and the Vikings (12-6) hit more Overs than any team in the NFL in 2022. The Chargers, for the record, were only 7-10-1.
Sports betting is often about going against the public sentiment. In this case, the Under feels like a sneakily great play. Minnesota’s defense will give up fewer points if the offense doesn’t turn the ball over 3.5 times per game, and the trade for Akers should bolster the run game.
On the opposite side, Herbert hasn’t been amazing thus far. The fourth-year pro only has three touchdowns and is 13th in QBR, so he hasn’t hit the MVP form that many expected.
It may not be a popular pick, but the Under is certainly in play.
Player Prop
One of the best player props in this matchup is Jordan Addison longest reception over 21.5 yards. The former Biletnikoff winner in college has already made a huge impact on the Vikings’ offense with seven catches for 133 yards and two touchdowns.
Notably, Addison has receiving longs of 39 and 62 yards in two games as a professional. He’s added verticality and another downfield threat that opponents can’t divert too many resources to because of the presence of Justin Jefferson.
Despite only catching 3.5 balls per game, Addison is getting 5.5 targets per game and is now going against a Chargers defense that has allowed 333 passing yards per game – the most in the entire league.
