In today’s newsletter…

1. Leading Off: Updated odds for NFL divisions

2. Bets to Watch: Look for points in Thursday Night Football

3. Thursday Night Football: Vikings QB troubles + Chargers identity crisis

4. Public Money: Bettors love underdog Nuggets tonight

5. Overtime: Wemby had no rust in first game back from injury

1. Leading Off

Week 8 in the NFL kicks off tonight with the Vikings facing the Chargers in Los Angeles. After a huge win over the Chiefs in Week 1, the Chargers’ expectations grew — but now they find themselves at 4-3 with the third-best odds to win the AFC West (+390, behind the Chiefs -130 and Broncos +220) and are down to -194 to make the playoffs.

Here are how the rest of the NFL divisions currently stack up odds-wise, according to FanDuel:

• AFC East: Bills -180, Patriots +145

• AFC North: Steelers +135, Ravens +150, Bengals +380

• AFC South: Colts -270, Jaguars +280, Texans +1400

• NFC East: Eagles -280, Cowboys +550, Commanders +600

• NFC North: Packers +105, Lions +115

• NFC South: Buccaneers: -270, Falcons +360

• NFC West: Rams +130, 49ers +170, Seahawks +270

—Abe Rakov

2. Bets to Watch

Chargers Will Have to Rely on Herbert’s Arm More Than Ever Because of RB Injuries

By Chris Farley

Vikings vs. Chargers over 44.5 points (-110 consensus)
While we like Minnesota’s defensive matchup against the Chargers, that doesn’t mean this game won’t feature points. The Vikings defense is good, not…

3. Thursday Night Football

Struggling Vikings Offense Faces Currently Identity-less Chargers

Both the Vikings and the Chargers are coming off a loss, and the jury is still out on both teams’ upside this season. The Vikings are still starting their backup quarterback Carson Wentz, so it’s unclear if Minnesota’s offense is sputtering because J.J. McCarthy is out or how it will look when he’s back. The Chargers had high hopes after their win over the Chiefs in Week 1 but haven’t looked as dominant since.

Vikings (3-3, 2-1 Away) vs. Chargers (4-3, 2-2 Home)
8:15pm ET on Prime

• Spread: Vikings (+3.5, -120), Chargers (-3.5, -102)

• Moneyline: Vikings +148, Chargers -178

• Total (44.5): Over -112, Under -108

Public Money

• Spread: 52% of the money and 55% of the bets are with Los Angeles

• Moneyline: 73% of the money and 71% of the bets are with Los Angeles

• Total: 71% of the money and 78% of the bets are on the over

Players to Watch

Vikings

• QB Carson Wentz: 95-142 (66.9%), 1,072 yards, 5 TD, 4 INT, 89.3 rating

• WR Justin Jefferson: 34 receptions (52 targets), 528 yards, 15.5 average, 1 TD, 20 first downs, 0 fumbles

• LB Eric Wilson: 41 tackles (19 solo), 1.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 3.5 stuffs

Chargers

• QB Justin Herbert: 183-271 (67.5%), 1,913 yards, 13 TD, 6 INT, 94.5 rating

• WR Keenan Allen: 44 receptions (65 targets), 435 yards, 9.9 average, 4 TD, 27 first downs, 1 fumble (0 lost)

• LB Tuli Tuipulotu: 20 tackles (14 solo), 5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 2 pass deflections, 5 stuffs

4. Public Money

Bettors Are Strongly With Underdog Nuggets (+2.5) at Golden State

5. Overtime

In the News 

• Victor Wembanyama scored 40 points in his return to the Spurs lineup in a blowout win over the Mavericks. Dallas Rookie Cooper Flagg had 10 points and 10 rebounds in his first NBA game, while 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe dropped 34 points — the most in a debut since Wilt Chamberlain.

• The 49ers are 5-2 despite another slew of injuries, and they’ve had to adjust on offense to get there.

• Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said he isn’t tall enough to target wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.

• University of Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello was named the Giants new manager, becoming the first MLB manager to go directly from college to the pros without major league experience.

What to Watch (times are ET)

• 6:45pm: Blackhawks vs. Lightning on ESPN+/Hulu

• 7:30pm: Thunder vs. Pacers on ESPN

• 8:15pm: Vikings vs. Chargers on Prime

• 10pm: Nuggets vs. Warriors on ESPN