NFL Picks: Steelers vs. Vikings Best Bets for Thursday Night Football

The Minnesota Vikings are coming off a brutal loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 13, and they will try to turn things around this week against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday Night Football.

WynnBET Sportsbook has Minnesota as a three-point favorite at home with the total sitting at 44 (Over -110/Under -110).

Here are the best bets from the BetSided team for this Thursday night matchup:

Best Bets for Steelers vs. Vikings on Thursday Night Football

• Pittsburgh Steelers +3 vs. Minnesota Vikings (-110)
• Minnesota Vikings -3 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (-110)
• Kirk Cousins OVER 1.5 TD Passes (-125)
• Pittsburgh Steelers-Minnesota Vikings UNDER 44 (-110)

Pittsburgh Steelers +3 vs. Minnesota Vikings (-110)

I broke down this pick in this week's “Best Bets” video because I really love Mike Tomlin as an underdog. 

Since 2007 when Tomlin took over in Pittsburgh, only Bill Belichick has covered at a higher rate as an underdog. Tomlin’s teams are 45-23-3 against the spread as a dog and the Steelers are 5-2 in that spot this season. 

Pittsburgh is also 6-3-1 straight up this year when T.J. Watt plays, and with the Vikings banged up (no Adam Thielen, potentially no Dalvin Cook), I think Pittsburgh can keep this close. Minnesota has played all but one game within one possession this season. -- Peter Dewey

Minnesota Vikings -3 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (-110)

Despite the Steelers continuing to find ways to win games, I will continue to bet against them. The Steelers rank 27th in offensive yards per play and 23rd in opponent yards per play. One area where the Vikings should be able to really attack them is their run defense. The Steelers rank dead last in the NFL in opponent yards per carry, allowing teams to average 4.7 yards on the ground against them.

The Vikings, while vulnerable on defense, rank seventh in yards per play and 12th in points per play. Minnesota will get it done on Thursday night. -- Iain MacMillan

Kirk Cousins OVER 1.5 TD Passes (-125)

Adam Thielen is going to be out, but don’t let that scare you from betting on Kirk Cousins. I know. It sounds weird to say. 

However, Cousins has thrown for at least two touchdowns in each of the last five games. He and Justin Jefferson are going to have a lot of connections on Thursday and with Jefferson’s big-play ability, the Vikings will be fine. Dalvin Cook is expected to be sidelined again, which means the ball will absolutely be in Cousins’ hand. -- Donnavan Smoot

Pittsburgh Steelers-Minnesota Vikings UNDER 44 (-110)

You might ask yourself why the under is in play between two bottom 12 defenses in the NFL on a short week in a dome.

For starters, unders on Thursday Night Football this year have been a solid play; with 11 of the last 14 games going below the projected total.

Second, early movement throughout the week from the sharps has bumped the original total of 45/45.5 down to 44 at WynnBET. 

There’s also injuries in play. Adam Thielen is out for Minnesota and Dalvin Cook is questionable, so two of Kirk Cousins’ most useful weapons are potentially out of this game, giving the Steelers a game plan to likely double Justin Jefferson throughout. 

Ben Roethlisberger can’t throw downfield anymore, as he dinks and dunks his way through short rest on the road at age 39.

WynnBET right now is actually offering a very favorable line at 44, compared to consensus lines at multiple other sportsbooks. If you’re considering the under, I’d jump on it now before it moves again. -- Ben Heisler