Sunday Night Football odds, NFL prediction, spread: Vikings vs. Colts picks from Minnesota expert on 46-19 run

Teams looking to get back on track meet when the Indianapolis Colts take on the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football. Indianapolis is coming off a 23-20 loss to Houston, while Minnesota is coming off two straight losses, including a 30-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The Colts (4-4), second in the AFC South standings, are 1-3 on the road this season. The Vikings (5-2), third in the NFC North standings, are 3-1 on their home field. Vikings tight end TJ Hockenson is expected to make his season debut after suffering a knee injury late last season.

Kickoff at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET. Minnesota is the 5.5-point favorite in the latest Vikings vs. Colts odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 47. The Vikings are -260 moneyline favorites (risking $260 to win $100), while the Colts are +212 underdogs. Before you make any Colts vs. Vikings picks or predictions, be sure to check out the NFL predictions and betting tips from SportsLine expert Larry Hartstein, who is well-versed in Minnesota picks.

A former lead writer for Covers and The Linemakers, Hartstein combines an extensive network of Vegas sources with an analytical approach he honed while working for Pro Football Focus. He finished 52nd (out of 1,598 entries) in the 2022 Westgate Las Vegas SuperContest with a 53-34-3 ATS record. Hartstein's weekly Vegas contest picks form the basis of his NFL best bets column, which is 79-48-2 (62.2%, +25.95 units) since its inception in 2022. He's also an astounding 46-19-2 (+2446) on his last 67 NFL picks against the Vikings' spread. Anyone who follows sports betting and betting apps has seen strong returns.

Now focused on Colts vs. Vikings, Hartstein just revealed his coveted NFL picks and predictions. You can head over to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are several NFL odds and NFL betting lines for Vikings vs. Colts:

• Vikings vs. Colts distribution: Minnesota -5.5
• Vikings vs. Colts over/under: 46.5 points
• Moneyline Vikings vs. Colts: Indianapolis +212, Minnesota -260
• IND: Colts have covered the spread in 14 of their last 20 games (+7.30 units)
• MIN: Vikings have reached the money line in 11 of their last 19 games (+4.55 units)
• Vikings vs. Colts picks: See picks at SportsLine
• Vikings vs. Colts Streaming: FuboTV (Try Free)

Why the Vikings can cover

Veteran quarterback Sam Darnold has completed 67.2% of his passes for 1,610 yards and 14 touchdowns with just five interceptions and a 107.2 rating. In a 34-7 win over the Houston Texans on September 22, he completed 17 of 28 passes (60.7%) for 181 yards and four touchdowns. In a 31-29 win at Green Bay on September 29, he completed 20 of 28 passes (71.4%) for 275 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.

Darnold's main target is wide receiver Justin Jefferson. He leads the team with 41 receptions for 646 yards (15.8 average) and five touchdowns with 187 yards after the catch and 28 first-down conversions. He has 10 explosive plays of 20 or more yards, including a long of 97. He has scored a touchdown in five of the Vikings' seven games. He had an eight-catch, 115-yard performance in the loss to the Rams. Find out who you can support at SportsLine.

Why the Colts can cover

Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco steps in as the starter for Indianapolis after the team benched former first-round draft pick Anthony Richardson. In parts of four games, Flacco had a solid performance, completing 71 of 108 passes (65.7%) for 716 yards and seven touchdowns with one interception and a 102.2 rating. In his Oct. 6 start at Jacksonville, Flacco completed 33 of 44 passes (75%) for 359 yards and three touchdowns.

Running back Jonathan Taylor was dominant in the Colts' running game. He has reached 100 or more yards in three of five starts this season. He completed 92 carries for 454 yards (4.9 average) and five touchdowns. He also has five explosive plays of 20 yards or more, including a long of 29 yards. Find out who you should support at SportsLine.

How to make Colts vs. Vikings picks

Hartstein has analyzed Colts vs. Vikings from every possible angle, and while we can tell you he's leaning over the total, he's also discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping over one side of the range. Find out what it is and which team you should support at SportsLine.

So who will win the Colts vs. Vikings on Sunday Night Football and what crucial X-factor will ensure one side of the spread gets hit hard? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Colts vs. Vikings is further behind, all from the expert who is 46-19 in picks with Minnesota, and find out.