The reigning Super Bowl champion Rams are currently 3-5, losing four of their last five games. The Cardinals are sitting any better as they also have lost four of their last five games. Let’s dive into the Cardinals-Rams prediction, including a same game parlay.
If you’re looking for additional bets after checking out this analysis, you can visit OddsShopper to shop for the best possible lines.
Both of team’s quarterbacks have been inconsistent at best, not to mention that both have some injury concerns heading into Sunday. The Rams have underperformed on offense and put up only mediocre defensive numbers. As for the Cardinals, since head coach Kliff Kingsbury took over this team in 2019 it has been nothing but problems.
In terms of betting trends, Sean McVay and the Rams have owned this Cardinals team over the last three seasons. The Rams are 7-1 straight up against Arizona. The Cardinals only win came in the series was in October 2021. Nevertheless, Arizona has put up a 6-1-1 mark against the spread versus the Rams during that stretch.
NFL Odds: Cardinals-Rams Odds
Spread: Rams +3.5
Moneyline: Rams (+130); Cardinals (-150)
Over/Under: 40 points
Cardinals offensive weapons must step up
The Cardinals offense has improved with WR DeAndre Hopkins back in the fold. However, even with the star receiver back, it might not mean much if the teammates surrounding him can’t step up. The Cardinals are ranked 30th in offensive DVOA this season and they do not rank higher than 23rd in any individual DVOA metric.
Despite averaging nearly thirty points per game since Hopkins’ return the Cardinals have only one win in that span. Kyler Murray is currently questionable with a hamstring injury which is something that can definitely be aggravated during a game if he plays. That’s especially the case if Murray finds himself on the run from Rams’ defensive tackle Aaron Donald.
The Rams defense has not been as good as we have come to expect in recent season, but this team is still in the top half of the league in most defensive DVOA stats. Overall, the defense is allowing an average of 21.6 points per game this season.
Can Matthew Stafford finally get going?
While the Rams defense has played reasonably well, their offense has looked terrible. They average the second fewest total yards per game and and average of just 16.4 points scored. Those numbers are worse than teams like the Texans Bears and Commanders, just to name a few.
Many, but not all of their offensive woes rest on Matthew Stafford‘s shoulders. The Rams’ passing DVOA actually ranks slightly better than their 30th ranked rushing DVOA. The retirement of All-Pro offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth has clearly left a big hole on this team. Likewise, free agent addition, WR Allen Robinson has not been as good as advertised to replace the production of Robert Woods and Odell Beckham Jr. from last year.
That said, The Cardinals’ defense has not been able to hold down anyone this season. They were able to hold the Carolina Panthers to 16 points in Week 4, but aside from that performance, they have allowed every team to score at least 19 points against them this season. The Rams on the other hand have only gone over 19 points in three games this season, winning each one of those contests.
This is a tough spot because both teams are essentially in make-or-break mode right now. The winner could be just two games back of the Seahawks, while the loser will be in desperation mode the rest of the year.
Final Cardinals-Rams Prediction & Pick:
Will McVay’s run over Kingsbury continue or will the Cardinals prevail in a close fight? With everything that’s been mentioned earlier, the Rams defensive unit will still be the best unit on the field Sunday. Plus, Klingsbury’s road unders are 16-5 since the start of the 2020 season.
I have been back and forth here on this play and it is a bit tough to make a precise prediction. The spread has been fluctuating between 2.5 and 3 all week and is currently sitting at -3 for the Rams. Neither of these sides instill a lot of confidence this deep into the season. The over/under currently sits at 40.5 which is the third lowest on the slate.
The Rams have been involved in only two games this season where they have gone over 41.5 points. The Cardinals have gone over 41.5 points six times this season. I see this as a close game and I believe the lines are fairly efficient. I would prefer the Rams side, and lean towards the under. For this pick though, I am looking at getting some slack and will go with a Same Game Parlay for some extra juice on the pick.
Final Cardinals-Rams Pick: Same Game Parlay Rams (+3.5) & Under 45.5 (+105), at DraftKings
