Chargers vs Vikings Odds, Prediction & Best Bets: Who Will Take the Win in This Toss-Up Tilt?

Neither the Los Angeles Chargers nor the Minnesota Vikings would have envisioned being winless after the first two weeks of the NFL season, but that is the position they both find themselves in heading into their Week 3 showdown in Minneapolis (Sunday, 1:00 pm ET, FOX).

Is it too early to call this a must-win game? Perhaps it is, but no one wants to be 0-3.

Which one of those teams is likeliest to leave U.S. Bank Stadium with an important win? The matchup looks like a real toss-up, and the odds certainly back that up.

Los Angeles Chargers vs Minnesota Vikings Odds

Early Odds

Odds are via Bovada as of Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at 5:30 am ET.

Spread

• Los Angeles Chargers +1 (-115)
• Minnesota Vikings -1 (-105)

Over/Under

• Over 54.5 (-105)
• Under 54.5 (-115)

Moneyline

• Los Angeles Chargers -110
• Minnesota Vikings -110

Gameday Odds

Odds are via Bovada as of Sunday, September 24, 2023, at 5:40 am ET.

Spread

• Los Angeles Chargers +1 (-110)
• Minnesota Vikings -1 (-110)

Over/Under

• Over 54 (-110)
• Under 54 (-110)

Moneyline

• Los Angeles Chargers -105
• Minnesota Vikings -115

Will Issues with Ground Gains Doom Minnesota Again?

In the offseason, the Vikings elected to part ways with Dalvin Cook and elevate Alexander Mattison to RB1.

Through two games with the New York Jets, Cook has 40 yards on 17 carries, an average of 2.4 yards per carry. So, the decision to cut costs there doesn’t look like bad on that end of the move at the moment.

But on their end of the move, the Vikings couldn’t be faring much worse heading into Sunday’s clash with the Chargers.

Mattison is actually outperforming Cook, but that isn’t saying much when the bar is near the floor. Through two games, Mattison has run for 62 yards on 19 carries (3.3 yards per carry), and his six receptions have gone for just 21 yards.

Kirk Cousins has started well, and Justin Jefferson is on pace for 170 catches and 2,472 yards, so things aren’t disastrous on offense for Minnesota.

But the ground game needs to be enough of a threat to keep opposing defenses on their toes, and this lack of production is not going to help the Vikings back up NFC North preseason predictions.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look likely to improve against the Chargers.

In Week 1, the Bolts allowed 70 rushing yards on 20 attempts (3.5 yards per carry) against the Dolphins. And in Week 2, they did about as good of a job as you can hope for against Derrick Henry, who ran for 80 yards but needed 25 carries to do so (3.2 yards per carry).

At the same time, the Vikings are coming off of a game in which they allowed 259 rushing yards at 5.4 yards a pop, with D’Andre Swift torching them for 175 yards on 28 carries.

The Chargers didn’t have a lot of success on the ground against the Titans, who had the NFL’s best run defense last season and could again this season.

But in Week 1 against the Dolphins, Austin Ekeler (16 carries, 117 yards, TD) and Joshua Kelley (16 carries, 91 yards, TD) combined for 208 yards on 32 carries (6.5 yards per carry).

If Ekeler, who injured his ankle in the fourth quarter against Miami and missed the Titans game, is somehow able to return this week, the Vikings could be in double trouble trying to deal with he and Kelley.

Los Angeles Chargers vs Minnesota Vikings Prediction and Best Bets

Prediction: Chargers to win

Best Bets: Chargers ML & Chargers/Vikings over 54.5

For all intents and purposes, you can call the aerial attack battle a wash here. Both teams bring a lot to the table in that regard and airing it out shouldn’t be a problem on either side.

But Minnesota’s concerns with the run both offensively and defensively are a major concern, especially in a game that shapes up to be very close.

With that in mind, I’m giving the edge to the Chargers. Both teams are due to come out on the right side in a close game, but I’m backing the Bolts to get it done and pick up their first win of the season, with an addition sprinkle on some over/under action.

Where to Bet on Chargers vs Vikings

Many of the top online sportsbooks offer a wide variety of NFL odds throughout the season.

In addition to being able to bet on Super Bowl spread and over/under odds when the big game arrives, you can make weekly NFL picks on games all season long.

Also, you can bet on the major awards like NFL MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year, and more at most reputable sports betting sites.

Along with Bovada, where the Chargers vs Vikings odds in this article came from, there are plenty of sports betting sites you can choose from that are good for NFL betting. Here are several books that we have reviewed and highly recommend:

• BetOnline
• BetUS
• Bookmaker
• MyBookie
• Sportsbetting.ag

If you don’t have an account at a book on this list, check out our reviews to help you determine if it is worth your interest and your betting funds.