In the final week of the NFL regular season, the Rams (-7) are set to host the Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. This NFC West game kicks off at 4:25 p.m. ET and fans can catch the action by tuning in to FOX.
Betting Preview: Los Angeles Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals
In this Sunday NFC game, Los Angeles is getting picked as the favorite and the team’s currently giving up 7 points. The Cardinals are also receiving +230 moneyline odds while the Rams are -280. If one team gets out in front early on it will produce a nice betting scenario in-game. Oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 49 points.
The Cardinals are down 0.9 units so far and 9-5-1 against the spread (ATS). The team has posted an O/U record of 8-7.
The Rams have lost 3.4 units this season. The team is 10-5 ATS and has an O/U record of 6-9.
The Cardinals have gone 5-9-1 straight up (SU), including 1-4 SU against NFC West opponents. The Rams are 8-7 SU overall and 2-3 SU versus divisional foes.
Arizona enters this matchup on a zero-game winless streak while Los Angeles has won zero in a row. The Cards are on the upswing after a 27-13 victory over Seattle in Week 16 where their D allowed the Seahawks to pass for 169 yards and rush for 91 yards. Jacob Hollister had a productive day for the Seahawks in that one with 64 yards on five catches. On the offense, the Cardinals completed 15-of-27 passes for 167 yards and one touchdown. Kyler Murray went 11-for-18 for 118 yards and one touchdown while Brett Hundley completed four-of-nine for 49 yards. Kenyan Drake (166 yards on 24 rush attempts, two TDs) spearheaded the running attack. Larry Fitzgerald (four receptions, 48 yards, one TD) and Drake (three catches, 18 yards) handled the receiving duties in the win.
In Week 16, San Francisco knocked off this Los Angeles team by a score of 34-31. The Rams defense allowed the 49ers to run for 119 yards on 23 rush attempts, including two rush TDs. George Kittle had a productive showing for San Francisco, recording 79 yards on five catches. For Los Angeles, Jared Goff completed 27-of-46 passes for 323 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Todd Gurley II (48 yards on 15 rush attempts, two TDs) led the running game while Tyler Higbee (nine receptions, 104 yards) and Robert Woods (eight catches, 117 yards) led the pass-catching attack in the loss.
Arizona’s run the ball on 42.6 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Los Angeles has an overall rush percentage of 38.5 percent. The Cardinals have rushed for 127.9 yards/game (including 146 per game against West opponents) and have 17 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Rams are putting up 92.4 rushing yards per game (111.4 in conference) and have 19 total rush TDs.
If 2019 numbers can translate to this game, then it appears the Rams should own the advantage when it comes to applying pressure, as their offensive line has allowed only 21 sacks while the D-line has registered 49 sacks. The Cardinals offensive line has allowed 49 sacks and their defense has got to opposing signal-callerss on just 39 occasions.
The Cards offense has averaged 231.5 yards through the air overall (192.4 per game versus conference opposition) and has 18 passing scores so far. The Rams have recorded 290 pass yards per contest (303 against NFC foes) and have 19 total pass TDs.
On the defensive side of the ball, Arizona has allowed 120.6 rush yards and 297.7 pass yards per game. The Los Angeles D has allowed 240.2 yards per game to opposing passers and 115.9 yards per game on the ground. The Rams are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 5.68 to opponents, while the Cardinals have allowed a 7.70 ANY/A.
Offensively, Murray is up to 3,178 passing yards this season. The signal-caller has completed 304-of-475 attempts with 17 passing scores and nine interceptions. Murray’s got a 5.38 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 7.52 over the past two games.
Look for a balanced approach offensively from Arizona in this one. Kenyan Drake (620 rushing yards, three rush TDs this season), Damiere Byrd (199 receiving yards) and Kyler Murray (488 rush yards, four rush TDs, 0 receiving yards) have each played key roles recently.
On the other sideline, Jared Goff has completed 332-of-530 passes for 4,035 yards, 17 TDs and 15 INTs. Goff’s ANY/A stands at 6.48 for the season and 5.81 over his past two games.
We also expect the Los Angeles offense to try for a balanced attack this Sunday. Tyler Higbee (539 receiving yards, two receiving touchdowns on the year), Robert Woods (1,050 receiving yards, one receiving TD) and Todd Gurley II (769 rush yards, 11 rush TDs, one receiving TD) have combined to account for 441 total yards and four touchdowns over the past couple of games.
Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Rams Betting Pick
SU Winner: Rams, ATS Winner: Cardinals, O/U: Under
Team Betting Notes
- The Over/Under for Arizona’s previous game was set at 48.5. The under cashed in the team’s 27-13 win over Seattle.
- Arizona, as a team, has averaged 5.7 yards per carry over its last three games and 6.4 over its last two.
- Los Angeles has averaged 3.5 yards per carry over its last three outings and only 2.5 over its last two.
- The Los Angeles offense has lost seven fumbles this season while Arizona has let three get away.
- Over its last three games, Arizona is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Los Angeles’ previous matchup going into it was 46. The over cashed in that 34-31 loss to San Francisco.
- Over its last three games, Los Angeles is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Cardinals offense has registered 10 pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Rams have put up five such plays.
- The Arizona defense has allowed seven pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Los Angeles has given up six such plays.
- The Arizona offense has created 15 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while Los Angeles has created eight such runs.
- The Cardinals defense has allowed nine rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Rams have given up seven such runs.
- The Los Angeles defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 49 times this season. Arizona has produced just 39 sacks.
