Two teams will have quarterbacks making their first starts of the season and meet early Sunday afternoon when the Minnesota Vikings face the Falcons in Atlanta in Week 9 NFL action. The latest Vikings vs. Falcons odds, props, and predictions reflect the chaos that comes with QB changes.
For Atlanta, veteran QB Taylor Heinicke has replaced Desmond Ridder. Minnesota will see rookie Jaren Hall be in charge after Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles last week in Green Bay.
The Falcons opened as a 4-point choice this week, and the line held relatively steady into the weekend. It currently sits Atlanta . In May, it was a whole different story, with the Vikings a 1-point choice when the Westgate SuperBook originally listed odds for this matchup.
Bookmakers' take: What is Cousins worth to the betting line?
On the ATS chart this season, the Vikings are 4-3-1; the Falcons 2-6.
As for over/under records, the teams have been part of unders in 13 of 16 combined games. Atlanta has six unders in eight outings. Minnesota totals have gone under seven times in eight games.
Odds for Vikings vs. Falcons NFL Week 9 matchup: Point spread, moneyline, total
Here's the live NFL betting odds for Vikings vs. Falcons:
Both teams enter Week 9 with 4-4 records, but the Falcons appear to be set up much better in the chase for a postseason berth.
Atlanta shares the NFC South lead with New Orleans and has by far the easiest remaining schedule in the league, according to Tankathon.com. Falcons opponents for the rest of the season have a cumulative winning percentage of .377.
On the futures boards, the Falcons are at to win the South and listed at to make the seven-team playoff field in the conference.
Minnesota, meanwhile, is second in the NFC North, two games behind Detroit, and whose remaining foes have a .486 combined winning percentage.
On the futures boards, Minnesota is a choice to win the North, the longest division odds for any second-place team in the NFL. The Vikings also are available at to reach the postseason.
Also read: NFL Week 9 sharp money report
Vikings vs. Falcons injury report
The heart of the offense will be missing for the Vikings, with not only Cousins out but star receiver Justin Jefferson (hamstring) also on the injured reserve list.
The Falcons' leading receiver is ailing, too, with Drake London (groin) not practicing Thursday.
Here is the current injury report for the Vikings vs. Falcons:
Vikings betting news
Hall, a fifth-round draft pick, has thrown only four passes in his first year in the league and has quite a void to fill. Cousins was tied for the most touchdowns in the NFL. As insurance, this week, Minnesota acquired Arizona starter Josh Dobbs at the trade deadline.
In college at BYU, Hall was prolific throwing, with 52 scoring passes and only 11 interceptions in his sophomore and junior seasons before jumping to the pros.
But he might not get much help Sunday from a ground game that averages only 3.6 yards a carry and ranks next to last in the league with 73.3 yards a game.
Defensively, Danielle Hunter leads the league with 10 sacks, but the team's pass defense ranks only 24th.
More: 2024 Super Bowl odds
Falcons betting news
For the second week in a row, and for the third time this season, Atlanta will face a rookie quarterback making his first start. Last week, it was against Tennessee's Will Levis, who threw four TD passes without an interception in a 28-23 Titans victory.
Four days later, though, Levis had zero scoring passes in Thursday night's 20-16 loss at Pittsburgh.
The Falcons also faced Carolina's Bryce Young in the season opener, winning 24-10. In addition, they went against yet another rookie starter in Week 5, Houston's C.J. Stroud, in a 21-19 win as a 2.5-point favorite.
Heinicke, meanwhile, started 24 games for Washington the previous two seasons, including a 34-30 victory in Atlanta in 2021 (three TD passes, no INTs). He obviously brings more experience than Ridder did.
Futures: Eagles, Cowboys in the Super Bowl odds mix | Odds to make NFL Playoffs
Vikings vs. Falcons props
Let's look at some prop bets for the Vikings vs. Falcons at top-rated sportsbook apps nationwide.
Anytime Touchdown Scorers
Alternate Lines (PointsBet)
- Vikings -11.5: +650
- Falcons +11.5: -1200
- Vikings -7.5: +425
- Falcons +7.5: -700
- Vikings +6.5: -165
- Falcons -6.5: +125
- Vikings +13.5: -425
- Falcons -13.5: +300
Vikings vs. Falcons predictions
Hall faces a steep challenge in his starting debut because of Jefferson's absence and the fact four other Vikings receivers have an injury designation of "IR, O, or Q" next to their name on the depth chart.
Plus, Minnesota's ground game has only one rushing touchdown this season. Atlanta has allowed only one.
Atlanta's run game has been far more productive behind rookie star Bijan Robinson (466 yards, 5.1 a carry) and Tyler Allgeier, a 1,000-yard rusher for the Falcons last year.
Unless Hall turns into another Brock Purdy and excels out of the gate, the Falcons will cover.
Prediction: Falcons () and under .
How to Watch Vikings vs. Falcons
- Date: Sunday, Nov. 5
- Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET
- Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium -- Atlanta, GA
- Where to Watch: Fox
More: NFL Week 9 action: Rams vs. Packers odds, props, predictions | Seahawks vs. Ravens odds, props, predictions
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