Best Sports Betting Picks Today: Vikings vs. Rams, NBA, NHL Bets For January 13th

With little drama until the Washington Commanders doinked their way to Detroit for a divisional round matchup with the Lions by upsetting the Buccaneers, there was nothing Super about wildcard weekend. 

But the bonus Monday game featuring a rematch between the Rams and Vikings is more likely to deliver on the level of Commanders-Bucs. 

We are dropping the puck in Philly, and there are more buckets coming your way to round out a reset Monday. 

Vikings vs. Rams (at Glendale, Arizona), 8 p.m. ET

A rematch of the Rams’ 30-20 win over the Vikings moved to Arizona due to the public safety concerns around wildfires near Los Angeles. 

The unique setting shouldn’t change much of what we expect between a pair of prolific passing offenses. But the Vikings have to prove their final three quarters of that loss—and last week’s defeat at the hands of the Lions—were more anomaly than trend. 

Pressure was the problem in both games, and more specifically the front seven getting heat on Sam Darnold. When Darnold has been on, he’s been brilliant. That was the case with 14 first-quarter points in the first matchup with the Rams. 

But when he’s uncomfortable and not given time to set his feet and throw, Darnold has been useless. 

The Rams are showing serious chops on defense of late, and Minnesota had no answer for rookie pass rusher Jared Verse in the first meeting. 

The Vikings’ defense in that game struggled to corral L.A.’s talented WR duo of Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, matchups the Rams want to exploit again. 

If the Rams can protect Stafford and heat up the pocket to chase Darnold out of his comfort zone, Los Angeles can book its ticket to Philadelphia. 

Best Bet: Matthew Stafford most passing yards +138 (FanDuel)

Florida Panthers at Philadelphia Flyers, 7:10 p.m. ET

Philadelphia has some momentum after a big win Saturday, when the Flyers roasted the Ducks 6-0. Travis Konecny had four assists while Samuel Ersson made 22 saves to record his second shutout of the season after missing time due to injury.

Philadelphia had not scored more than two goals in any of its previous four games, including Thursday’s 4-1 defeat to Dallas.

Florida’s Sam Reinhart has four goals in the past four games, including in Saturday’s loss in overtime to the Bruins. Six of the Panthers’ next eight are on the road, including the second matchup of the season with the Flyers. 

Florida grabbed a 7-5 victory over the Flyers on Dec. 5 and Matthew Tkachuk notched a goal with four assists. The Flyers trailed 3-0 in that game before surging ahead 5-4 early in the third period, only to surrender the game’s final three goals.

Best Bet: Flyers +1.5 plus the over 5.5 +190 (FanDuel)

Pistons at N.Y. Knicks, 7:40 p.m. ET

Down a second scorer without Jaden Ivey, the Pistons are being led by Cade Cunningham and experience a resurgence following one of the worst seasons in NBA history in 2023-24.

Detroit has won 11 of 15 games to climb into eighth place in the Eastern Conference, just one game behind the Milwaukee Bucks and the Miami Heat, who are tied for sixth place and the final guaranteed playoff spot.

The Knicks received a heroic individual effort from Jalen Brunson, who injured his shoulder in a 140-106 whipping of the Bucks on Sunday. Brunson is averaging 25.5 points and a career-high 7.5 assists per game and is expected to play despite the injury.

Cunningham has fueled the Pistons’ surge. The guard, who was the first overall pick in the 2021 draft, is averaging 24.9 points, 10.1 assists and 6.1 rebounds over that 15-game stretch. 

He has posted three triple-doubles, including 22 points, 18 assists and 10 rebounds in Saturday’s home win over the Toronto Raptors. 

Pistons +7.5, -105 (DraftKings)