NFL

Rams - Lions betting trends: Pick, odds, point spread and over/under prediction | NFL week 1

The Lions had a huge year last year, while the Rams didn’t. Both will be looking to improve which is why this Week 1 clash should be lit. Here are your odds.

GREGORY SHAMUSAFP

In what will be a rematch of their Wild Card clash back in January, the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams will get down to business on Sunday night. What’s even more interesting about this one is that it will see both Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff playing against their former teams which as you can imagine, is a big deal. Kickoff is set for 8:20 p.m. from Ford Field in Detroit. Don’t miss it.

Rams - Lions: How it’s going to go down

In simple form, the Lions have a vicious offense and it’s got depth to boot. Last season, Detroit was ranked third in the league in total offense (394.8), second in pass offense (258.9), and fifth in rushing offense (135.9). On top of that, they were also third in the NFL in scoring offense with 27.1 points per game. At the center of that was quarterback Jared Goff who has established himself as a true playmaker who can get multiple players involved in the attack. In total, he notched 4,575 passing yards last season which was good enough for second in the league. The 29-year-old was also fourth in passing touchdowns with 30, and 11th in QBR at 60.3.

On the other side of the divide, we’ve got the Rams who also boast a solid offense even if not as prolific as their Week 1 hosts. Last year, they were seventh in total offense with 359.3 yards, 10th in passing offense at 239, and eighth in points per game with 23.8. Like the above-mentioned Goff, it was Los Angeles’ quarterback Matthew Stafford who was the architect behind it all. When it comes to arm strength, Stafford has got some to spare and that’s without touching on his machine-like accuracy. Last year, the two-time Pro Bowl selection was 11th in both passing yards (3,965) and passing touchdowns (24).

Of course, there are other weapons to be mentioned in all of this such as wide receiver Puka Nacua whose rookie campaign truly turned heads. Indeed, some might say he’s the best in the position right here and now. From his velcro-like hands to his incredible agility, the former BYU product appears to have it all. Last season, Nacua finished the campaign ranked ninth in receptions (105) and fourth in receiving yards (1,486) with six touchdowns. In the Wild Card loss to the Lions, Nacua hauled in nine catches for 181 yards and one touchdown. This of course brings us to the odds themselves which you can see below:

  • Lions vs. Rams spread: Detroit -4.5
  • Lions vs. Rams over/under: 52.5 points
  • Lions vs. Rams money line: Lions -209, Rams +174
  • DET: Lions have covered the spread in 16 of their last 21 games
  • LAR: Rams are 13-5-2 ATS in their past 20 games played in September

Ultimately, with neither team significantly hindered by their respective injury reports, we expect this one to be as tight as their last meeting back in January when the Lions just managed to get the better of the Rams in a 24-23 win. Where the numbers are concerned, the Lions went 14-6 against the spread, which constituted the best ATS record in the NFL. Meanwhile, the Rams were 11-6-1 against the spread last season which it has to be said, was not so bad either.

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