The Los Angeles Rams put on a clinic through the first half of the season as they went 6-2 through the first 8 games of 2017. Few in the US online sportsbook community could have seen it coming, but success is the type of thing that follows once an organization finally cuts ties with Jeff Fisher. But with the end of the regular season in sight, the Los Angeles Rams will need a strong finish to the year in order to secure that NFC title has eluded their organization for the last 14 years. Judging by the odds NFL gambling sites are giving the Rams this Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles shouldn’t have too hard a time accomplishing that goal this weekend.
Betting Los Angeles
The Rams enter this NFC West rivalry with an 8-3 record that ranks LA No. 1 in the division. The Seahawks are the biggest threat the Rams are facing as Seattle is currently sitting on a 7-4 record. Furthermore, Seattle defeated Los Angeles earlier this year so they’ll take the cake in case of a tie breaker. The Rams will have an opportunity to avenge their loss in a couple of weeks but they’ll be better off preventing a tie entirely. Los Angeles last took to the gridiron to face the New Orleans Saints at home in 26-20 winning effort. That win allowed the Rams to rebound from a 24-7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings they had suffered the week before.
The Rams have the advantage on offense, unquestionably. Los Angeles has the 2nd best scoring offense in the NFL, the 4th best total offense, the 6th best passing offense and the 9th best running game. The Cardinals haven’t been all impressive on defense as they have a -4 turnover ratio on the year. Good sportsbooks are predicting that this ratio will worsen after Sunday’s action.
Betting Arizona
The Cardinals Fly into this Week 13 pairing sporting a 5-6 record that ranks them 3rd in the NFC West behind both the Rams and the Seahawks. Good sportsbook players had Arizona pegged as a contender in the West before the season kicked off and rightfully so. The reason the Cardinals have failed to live up to those expectations is another classic case of the injury bug. David Johnson went down early in the year and the Cardinals lost Carson Palmer just a few weeks back. Adrian Peterson was brought in to help account for the losses and although the veteran running back had a tremendous debut for the Cardinals, Peterson has since then stuttered and is producing just as little as he was down in New Orleans.
With a backup quarterback under center, and an aging Peterson in the backfield, the Cards don’t stand much of a chance this Sunday. The Rams rank 9th against the pass, so Blaine Gabbert isn’t going to have a walk in the park. Gabbert enters this game with 5 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, 498 yards and an 87.6 passer rating to his name. The Cardinals do have the 8th best passing offense in the league, so you never know; they might be able to give Los Angeles a run for their money.
Good Sportsbook Betting Lines:
Los Angeles Rams -7 (-105) 44 ½ (-105) -345
Arizona Cardinals +7 (-115) 44 ½ (-115) +278
