The Indianapolis Colts walk into U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday as 6.5-point underdogs, and the number has been moving away from them all week. Minnesota opened at -5.5 and now sits at -6.5, which tells you where the serious money landed. The Vikings are 5-0 with the stingiest defense in football. The Colts are 2-4 and coming off a loss in which they blew a 13-0 lead. Still, the way Minnesota has won its five games is the key to this whole handicap.
Last Updated: Sunday, October 25, 2026
Indianapolis Colts vs. Minnesota Vikings — Time & How to Watch
| Where | U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis MN |
| When | Sunday, October 25 – 1:00 PM ET |
| TV | CBS |
Indianapolis Colts vs. Minnesota Vikings Betting Preview
Minnesota sits alone atop the NFC North at 5-0 and is coming off a bye. The defense is the story. Brian Flores’ unit has allowed just 12.8 points per game, the best mark in the league through five weeks. Kyler Murray, named the starter in August over J.J. McCarthy, has not had to carry the team.
Indianapolis is a different picture. The Colts are 2-4 and second in the AFC South, trailing Jacksonville at 4-2. Week 6 was the low point. Indy led Tennessee 13-0, committed three turnovers, and lost 26-20. Daniel Jones has four touchdowns against six interceptions in six games, and his 5.9 yards per attempt is a career-worst figure. The run game remains legitimate, though. Jonathan Taylor has 492 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, and he appears on the injury report for rest rather than injury.
The health gap matters here. Indianapolis ruled out tight end Tyler Warren with a groin injury, cornerback Sauce Gardner with a calf issue, and receiver Anthony Gould with a concussion. Receiver Alec Pierce remains on injured reserve. Minnesota, by contrast, listed only running back Jordan Mason as questionable with a thumb injury. For a team facing the league’s most aggressive blitz package, losing your best pass-catching tight end is a real problem.
Indianapolis Colts vs. Minnesota Vikings Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colts | +6.5 (-110) | +240 | U 41.5 (-115) |
| Vikings | -6.5 (-110) | -290 | O 41.5 (-105) |
Odds accurate as of October 25, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NFL Odds – Futures – Props
Indianapolis Colts vs. Minnesota Vikings — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Colts | 53% | 47% | Vikings |
See the latest NFL Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Colts vs. Vikings Prediction — Can the Road Dog Hang Around a Key Number?
Start with the split, because it is unusual. Spread tickets are close to even, with 53 percent on Indianapolis. The line still climbed from -5.5 to -6.5, and Minnesota’s moneyline shortened from -250 to -290. That combination usually means the dollars and the tickets are pointing in opposite directions. The market respects Minnesota more than the public does.
The case against the Colts is easy to write. Jones has thrown six interceptions in six games. Flores blitzes more than any coordinator in the league, and Indy just lost the tight end who helps most against pressure. Minnesota is 4-1 against the spread and has not lost a game. Home favorites with elite defenses and a bye week of preparation are a difficult fade.
However, look at how Minnesota wins. The Vikings have cleared 6.5 points of margin in some games and ground out single-digit results in others. Four of their five games have finished under the total, which is the profile of a team that wins close rather than wide. Meanwhile, the Colts have been more competitive than 2-4 suggests. Taylor gives them a way to shorten the afternoon, and 6.5 is a number that short-handed road teams land on more often than the record implies. The risk is obvious: one more two-turnover afternoon from Jones and this gets away quickly.
The Pick: Colts +6.5 (-110)
Colts vs. Vikings Prediction — Is There Enough Offense Here to Clear the Number?
The total opened at 42 and has ticked down to 41.5, which is already one of the lowest numbers on the Week 7 board. The reason is Minnesota’s defense. Allowing 12.8 points per game suppresses totals on its own, and the under has cashed in four of the Vikings’ five games. Indianapolis arrives without Warren, Gould and Pierce, so the passing menu is thin against a unit that came out of the bye essentially healthy. A Taylor-heavy, clock-draining game plan also cuts possessions for both sides.
The other side is worth stating plainly. Colts games have gone over in four of six this season, and Indy’s defense has been the softer unit, particularly against the run. If Minnesota’s offense finds the end zone twice early, the number gets cleared quickly. A low total also leaves little cushion, and one special-teams score or a short-field touchdown can erase the whole thesis. The edge still sits with the side supported by the better defense and the heavier track record.
The Pick: Under 41.5 (-115)
Final Thoughts and Bonus Angle
There is one more angle worth flagging, and it comes straight out of the betting splits. Moneyline money is piled on Minnesota at 93 percent, while spread tickets sit nearly even. That is the signature of a public that expects a Vikings win but is not confident about the margin. At +240, Indianapolis offers a priced-in outcome that only needs the low-scoring, one-possession game both teams’ profiles point toward. This is a small-stake angle rather than a core position, and it fails outright if Jones gives the ball away early.
Zoom out and the handicap is coherent. Minnesota is the better team and is likely to win. The question is whether its offense can put 7-plus points between itself and a team that runs the ball well. Our read is that it cannot. For more on how we are approaching the week, see our recent NFL game predictions and our latest NFL picks coverage.
All picks: Colts +6.5 (-110); Under 41.5 (-115); bonus angle Colts moneyline +240.
NFL Colts vs. Vikings FAQ: Sunday October 25, 2026
What time does the Colts vs. Vikings game start?
Kickoff is 1:00 PM ET on Sunday, October 25, 2026. It is one of the early-afternoon windows on the Week 7 schedule rather than a national primetime slot. Minnesota returns from its Week 6 bye for this one.
What channel is the Colts vs. Vikings game on?
The game airs on CBS. Because it is a Sunday afternoon regional broadcast, availability depends on your local market and the week’s CBS coverage maps rather than on a single national feed.
Where are the Colts and Vikings playing?
The game is at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Vikings’ home venue. Indianapolis is the visiting team and makes the trip after a Week 6 home loss to Tennessee, while Minnesota is coming off its bye week.
Who won the last meeting between the Colts and Vikings?
Minnesota won the most recent meeting 21-13 in November 2024, also at U.S. Bank Stadium. Indianapolis still leads the all-time series between the two clubs, which sit in different conferences and meet only once in the regular rotation.
Where do the Colts and Vikings stand in their divisions?
Minnesota is first in the NFC North at 5-0 and the only unbeaten team in the division. Indianapolis is second in the AFC South at 2-4, behind Jacksonville at 4-2 and level on record with Houston. The Titans trail the group at 1-5.