Will return of Cooper Kupp spark Rams upset of Vikings? Our Thursday night pick to launch NFL Week 8
GREG COTE’S NFL WEEK 8 THURSDAY PICK
VIKINGS (5-1) at RAMS (2-4)
Line: MIN by 3.
Cote’s pick: LAR, 27-24.
TV: 8:15 p.m. Thursday, Prime Video.
Upset! Sometimes you gotta follow your gut (and lord knows I have a lot of gut to follow, alas). Rams expect to have WR Cooper Kupp in lineup for first time since Week 2 even as trade rumors swirl around him. Kupp back is a huge lift for Matthew Stafford. So is RB Kyren Williams facing a Vikings defense just whipped for 144 ground yards by Detroit. Minnesota risks a letdown here after emotional 31-29 home division loss to Lions. And playing physical Detroit takes a toll -- which may be why every team that has played DET this season has lost the following week. Small sample size, but still enough to make you go hmm. I’m riding a big Thursday night show by Stafford to a prime-time upset to kick ff NFL Week 8. Vikes have 30th-ranked pass defense, and value of Kupp will shine. I certainly get why Minnesota is a road favorite here, but the home ‘dog kept calling me. Gut don’t fail me now!
Betting line courtesy ESPNBet as of afternoon Wednesday.
This story was originally published October 23, 2024 at 12:15 PM.
