The Los Angeles Rams (-9.5) and Detroit Lions will do battle on the dome at Ford Field. This early afternoon game will get going at 1:00 p.m. ET and fans can catch the action by tuning in to FOX.
Los Angeles Rams at Detroit Lions Betting Preview
Detroit is a live dog in this one and is currently getting 9.5 points. The Rams are also receiving -440 moneyline odds while the Lions are +310. If one team can create a bunch of points early it will create a worthy live betting opportunity. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 55 points.
The profitable Rams are 4-5-2 against the spread (ATS) and have gained 8.6 units so far. The team’s posted an Over-Under record of 6-5. The Lions have lost 3.5 units this season. The team is 6-5 ATS and also has an O/U record of 6-5.
The Rams have gone 10-1 straight up (SU) in 2018 while the Lions are 4-7 SU.
The Rams just got a 54-51 victory over Kansas City on November 19. Jared Goff completed 31-of-49 passes for 413 yards and four touchdowns. Todd Gurley II (55 rushing yards on 12 attempts) led the ground attack while Brandin Cooks (eight receptions, 107 yards) and Tyler Higbee (six catches, 63 yards) shared the receiving duties in the win.
Detroit just suffered a 23-16 defeat to Chicago in Week 12. The defense did its part in the loss, keeping the Bears to only 238 passing yards and 38 rushing yards. Tarik Cohen had a solid showing for Chicago, recording 14 rushing yards on three attempts, along with 45 yards on seven catches. For Detroit, Matthew Stafford completed 28-of-38 passes for 236 yards and two interceptions. LeGarrette Blount (88 yards on 19 rush attempts, two TDs) handled the running game as Theo Riddick (seven receptions, 48 yards) and Bruce Ellington (six catches, 28 yards) led the pass-catching attack in the loss.
Los Angeles has run the ball on 45.2 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Detroit has a rush percentage of 38.7 percent. The Rams have produced 139 rush yards/game and have 15 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Lions are averaging 101 rushing yards per game and have eight total rush TDs.
The Rams offense has tallied 324 yards/game in the air overall and has 26 passing scores so far. The Lions have produced 260 pass yards per outing and have 17 total pass TDs.
Defensively, Los Angeles has let opponents run for an average of 120 yards and pass for 274 yards per game. The Detroit D has allowed 257.7 yards per game to opposing passers and 117.1 yards per game to opposing runners. The Rams are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of 7.02 to opponents, while the Lions have allowed an 8.12 ANY/A.
Offensively, Goff is already up to 3,229 passing yards on the year, and has connected on 230-of-342 attempts with 24 scores through the air and only six interceptions. He’s got a pristine 9.07 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 8.48 over the last two games.
Todd Gurley II (923 rushing yards, 12 rush TDs, 401 receiving yards, four receiving touchdowns this season), Brandin Cooks (864 receiving yards, three receiving TDs) and Robert Woods (815 receiving yards, four TDs) have all played significant roles lately.
For the home team, Matthew Stafford has connected on 249-of-369 passes for 2,621 yards, 16 TDs and 10 INTs. Stafford’s ANY/A stands at 5.74 for the year and 4.71 across his past two outings.
We’re thinking the Lions will control tempo by putting the ball into the hands of their running backs. In addition to Kenny Golladay (691 receiving yards, four receiving TDs this season), LeGarrette Blount (270 rush yards, five rush TDs) and Kerryon Johnson (641 rush yards, three rush TDs, one TD) have delivered significant production to the Lions’ recent offensive strategies.
RELATED: Week 13 NFL Betting Odds and Predictions
Free Betting Pick: Los Angeles Rams at Detroit Lions
SU Winner – Rams, ATS Winner – Lions, O/U – Under
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Notes
Betting Trends
The Detroit defense has tallied 32 sacks on the year while Los Angeles has 29.
Detroit has lost five fumbles in 2018 while Los Angeles has lost three.
The Rams offense has recorded nine pass plays of 40+ yards, while the Lions have put up four such plays.
The Los Angeles defense has allowed eight pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Detroit has given up seven such plays.
The Los Angeles offense has created nine rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Detroit has created eight such runs.
The Rams defense has allowed nine rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Lions have given up seven such runs.
The O/U for Detroit’s last match was set at 43. The under cashed in the team’s 23-16 loss to Chicago.
In its last three games, Detroit is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
Over its last three matches, Los Angeles is 0-2-1 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
The O/U for Los Angeles’ previous game was set at 63.5. The over cashed in the team’s 54-51 triumph over Kansas City.
Los Angeles has produced 5.0 yards per carry across its past three contests and 5.1 over its last two.
Detroit has averaged 3.8 yards per carry over its last three matchups and 4.1 over its past two.
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