In one of the more intriguing Thursday Night Football matchups of the year, the Minnesota Vikings come to University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ, to take on the Arizona Cardinals in a critical game that could make or break a few different playoff scenarios for each team.

I’m going to do a quick betting preview on this game, along with reasons to bet each team ATS and a few other bonus bets and daily fantasy plays you should be making today.

This is why the Cardinals cover the spread (-9)

Simply put, even with the Cards being down 2 running backs (Andre Ellington and Chris Johnson) they still have a formidable offense led by QB Carson Palmer and a receiver corp led by Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd and John Brown. This team is absolutely stacked on offense and defense and aren’t afraid to be aggressive on either side of the ball.

They aren’t just winning games – they’re doing so at a HUGE clip. With the Vikings just coming off an absolute beatdown courtesy of the Seahawks just 4 days ago they will be coming in limping on short rest to play against this high-flying Arizona squad fresh off a 27-3 against the St Louis Rams.

>> Bet this game and the Cardinals today at Bovada and get your 50% bonus up to $250.

Betting the Vikings ATS (+9)

This is a sneaky good play in my honest opinion. I know that I just mentioned the Vikes are coming off a short week but the one big thing this team is actually good at this year its covering the spread. Minnesota is current 9-3 against the spread in their games this year and getting 9 points on the road is pretty decent.

The Cardinals will be relying heavily on their aerial attack in this matchup. However, the Vikings actually have one of the best pass defenses in the league right now, which could bode well for them as far as keeping Carson Palmer at bay and allow their workhorse Adrian Peterson wear the Cards D down while they look to set up big play action routes for stud wideout Stefon Diggs.

>> Bet the Vikings at BetOnline today – home of the best reduced juice lines ANYWHERE!

Extra betting tip – BET THE OVER (46.5)

This game features two of the best defenses in the NFC, but I think this game will be blown wide open by one of these teams. My gut says the Cardinals throw up at least 27 points minimum, and with the Vikings being more than effective themselves on offense with Teddy Bridgewater behind center, I think they have a good chance of putting up at least 3 touchdowns against a very tough Cardinals secondary.

In either case, the chances bode well for the OVER to hit in this one, which is currently set at 46.5 points. Whether the game is a shootout (which it had the potential to be) or one team is getting critical garbage time points late in the game, there’s a high probability the points will rack up big time when it’s all said and done.

>> Bet the OVER 46.5 with confidence today at BetOnline.

Bonus: DraftKings DFS plays you should be making

PICK: David Johnson is a steal at $4,300 right now at DraftKings. This guy is going to be the bell cow RB for the Cardinals in this TNF matchup, especially with Ellington and Johnson out for the foreseeable future. He only makes big plays, get tons of touches and is a beast out of the backfield catching the ball.

DO NOT PICK: Adrian Peterson is a decent value pick for DraftKings this week at $6,900 but can you really trust him? He just had his worst game of the year against the Seahawks this past Sunday and is coming to Arizona on short rest to face one of the best running defenses in the league. AP will get love in daily fantasy in his remaining matchups – just not this one.