The Los Angeles Rams (-13.5) are set to take on their NFC West rival Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. FOX owns the TV rights and the game’s scheduled to get going at 4:05 p.m. ET.
Los Angeles Rams at Arizona Cardinals Betting Preview
Arizona is a live dog and is currently getting 13.5 points in this NFC matchup. The Rams are also receiving -875 moneyline odds while the Cardinals are +525. Should one squad finds paydirt early it will produce a nice in-game betting opportunity. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 47.5 points.
The line opened at 14. The game’s total hasn’t changed since it opened at 47.5.
The Rams are down 0.7 units this season and 5-7-2 against the spread (ATS). The team has posted an Over-Under record of 6-7-1. The Cardinals have lost 3.3 units in 2018. The team is 6-8 ATS and owns an O/U record of 6-8.
The Rams have gone 11-3 straight up (SU), including 4-0 SU against NFC West opponents. The Cardinals are 3-11 SU overall and 2-2 SU versus divisional foes.
Each team enters the contest on a two-game losing streak. The Rams will attempt to get back on track after a 30-23 defeat to Philadelphia last weekTheir defense allowed the Eagles to eat up the clock by running for 111 yards on 30 rush attempts, including three rush TDs. Alshon Jeffery logged a productive day for the Eagles in that one with 160 yards on eight catches. On the offense, Jared Goff completed 35 passes for 339 yards and two interceptions. Todd Gurley II (48 rushing yards on 12 attempts, two TDs) led the ground attack in the loss. Gurley II (10 receptions, 76 yards) and Robert Woods (seven catches, 74 yards) handled the receiving duties.
Back in Week 15, Atlanta took care of this Arizona team by a score of 40-14. The Cards defense allowed the Falcons to run for 215 yards on 27 rush attempts, including two rush TDs. Tevin Coleman put up a productive outing in the win, recording 145 rushing yards and a score on 11 attempts for Atlanta. As a group, the Cards collectively completed 23-of-36 passes for 243 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Josh Rosen went 13-for-22 for 132 yards and two interceptions while Mike Glennon was 10-of-14 for 111 yards and one touchdown. David Johnson (33 rushing yards on 11 attempts, one TD) spearheaded the ground game in the defeat as Larry Fitzgerald (seven receptions, 82 yards) and T.J. Logan (four catches, 18 yards) led the pass-catching corps.
Each of these teams sports a strikingly similar (42-58) run-pass ratio on the season. Having said that, the Rams have rushed for 129 yards per game (including 135 per game versus West opponents) and have 19 touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Cards haven’t been as productive, as they’re totaling 82 rushing yards per game (73 in conference) and have nine total rush TDs.
If 2018 numbers can translate to this game, then it appears the Rams could own an advantage along both the offensive and defensive fronts, as their offensive line has yielded just 28 sacks while the D-line logged 48 sacks. The Cardinals offensive line has given up 52 sacks and their defense has generated only 37 sacks.
The Rams offensive scheme has averaged 307 yards through the air overall (299 per game versus conference opposition) and has 27 passing scores so far. The Cards have recorded 182 pass yards per game (173.0 against NFC foes) and have 13 total pass TDs.
On the defensive side of the ball, Los Angeles has allowed 123 rush yards and 260 pass yards per game. The Arizona defense has given up 230.5 yards per game to opposing passers and 144.9 yards per game to opposing runners. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to opponents, as the Rams have given up an ANY/A of 6.41 to opposing QBs, while the Cards are yielding an ANY/A of 6.12.
Offensively, Goff is already up to 4,093 passing yards this season. He’s connected on 310-of-468 attempts with 27 scores through the air and nine interceptions. Goff has an 8.20 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 2.12 over the past two games.
Josh Rosen has connected on 161-of-295 passes for 1,802 yards, 10 TDs and 13 INTs for Arizona. His ANY/A stands at a terrible 3.60 for the season and 2.40 over his last two outings.
RELATED: Week 16 NFL Betting Odds and Predictions
Betting Prediction: Los Angeles Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals
SU Winner – Rams, ATS Winner – Cardinals, O/U – Under
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Notes
Team Betting Trends
The Arizona defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 41 times this year. Los Angeles has recorded just 34 sacks.
Arizona has lost eight fumbles in 2018 while Los Angeles has lost five.
The Rams offense has recorded nine pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Cardinals have put up four such plays.
The Los Angeles defense has allowed nine pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Arizona has given up four such plays.
The Los Angeles offense has created 12 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while Arizona has created four such runs.
The Rams defense has allowed 13 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Cardinals have given up 17 such runs.
The O/U for Arizona’s last matchup going into it was 43.5. The over cashed in that 40-14 defeat to Atlanta.
In its last three matches, Arizona is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
In its last three matches, Los Angeles is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
Arizona has lost six of its last seven games SU, with a three-point triumph over Green Bay on December 2nd accounting for its only win over that stretch.
The Over/Under for Los Angeles’ last game was set at 53. The O/U pushed in the team’s 30-23 defeat to Philadelphia.
As a team, Los Angeles has averaged 4.7 yards per rush attempt across its last three contests and 4.3 over its last two.
Arizona has averaged 4.2 yards per carry over its last three games and 2.8 over its past two.
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