NFL Week 13: Rams vs. Cardinals odds, preview, and pick
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff looks for a receiver. (Photo by Shelley Lipton/Icon Sportswire)
December 2nd, 2020
NFC West rivals will square off at State Farm Stadium on Sunday afternoon (4:05 p.m. ET, FOX) as the Los Angeles Rams (7-4) visit the Arizona Cardinals (6-5).
Kyler Murray and company are underdogs at home, but have dropped four straight against the spread. Will they snap that streak, or will the Rams help chalk bettors cash? Here’s our wagering preview.
Rams are winning close games, Cardinals are not
The Rams have been involved in three straight one-possession games. They beat the Seattle Seahawks by seven in Week 10 before handing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a field goal defeat in Week 11. Their fortunes changed last Sunday, as Los Angeles lost by three to the San Francisco 49ers.
One of the more clutch moments of Rams/Bucs game came on this crucial 3rd down conversation to put the Rams in eventual game winning field goal range. Clutch throw on the run from QB J.Goff. #16➡️#10🔥 pic.twitter.com/qqRbHKc0G5
— RAMS ON FILM (@RamsOnFilm) November 24, 2020
The Cardinals have lost three of their last four games, but all were winnable as they finished within one score of the Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks, and New England Patriots. A 32-30 victory over the Buffalo Bills was wedged between.
Strength meets strength when Arizona has the ball
Murray and the eighth-ranked Arizona scoring offense (27.6 points per game) meets the Rams’ fourth-rated scoring defense (19.6 points allowed per game) in this one.
Kyler Murray just toying with the Patriots 😯
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 29, 2020
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/dUt936dDX6
Kliff Kingsbury’s crew specializes in the ground game (155.9 yards per game, fourth), but L.A.’s stoppers are fourth in the NFL in preventing the run (93.5 yards allowed per game).
Rams and Cardinals statistics and rankings
| Team | Passing Yards | Rushing Yards | Passing Yards Allowed | Rushing Yards Allowed |
|---|
Los Angeles Rams | 264.5 (11th) | 124.6 (9th) | 203.5 (2nd) | 93.5 (4th) |
Arizona Cardinals | 247.8 (15th) | 155.9 (4th) | 227.2 (13th) | 123.4 (22nd) |
Goff has carved up the Cardinals in seasons past
Rams signal caller Jared Goff is fresh off his worst outing of the year by passer rating (52.9) against the 49ers, but bettors should expect a bounce-back effort on Sunday.
The #Rams have wins against the #Seahawks and #Bucs sandwiched between a loss to the #Dolphins and a struggle now against the #49ers, weird. pic.twitter.com/0u1nWSmpOI
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 29, 2020
In his last four starts against the Cardinals, Goff has completed 72.2% of his throws for 9.1 yards per attempt with a 7:1 touchdown-interception ratio. The former first-overall pick has a better passer rating on the road (94.6) than at home (88.8) in 2020.
Trends say take Rams, Under
Sean McVay knows how to get his Rams to rebound, as they’ve covered in nine of their last 10 games following a spread loss. L.A. is also 11-5 against the spread in its last 16 road games.
The Cardinals are 2-6 against the spread in their last eight home games against teams with winning road records.
The Rams have been an Under bettor’s best friend in 2020, going below the total in seven of their last eight overall contests. The Under is 20-7 in L.A.’s last 27 games as the betting favorite.
The Under is 8-3 in games involving the Cardinals this season.
Score prediction: Rams 24, Cardinals 17
NFL pick: Rams -3, Under
Wager on all NFL Week 13 action now at BetAmerica!
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