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Los Angeles Rams vs Arizona Cardinals: Betting Guide

· Dec 12 - 5 minutes read

The NFC West Division figured to come down to the Los Angeles Rams vs Arizona Cardinals. If Arizona, which hasn’t lost to a division team, can sweep the season series from the Rams the NFC West Division race is pretty much over.

The teams are as different as the starting quarterbacks. Arizona’s Kyler Murray doesn’t run as much as he did in his first two seasons and some injuries have contributed to that but he still has five touchdown runs and is a threat to make plays with his legs. Matthew Stafford of the Rams is more of the classic dropback passer who is third in the NFL with 3611 passing yards,

The Arizona Cardinals (+375) are tied with Green Bay for the second-best odds behind defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. The Rams (+550) are fifth.

Game: Los Angeles Rams (8-4) vs Arizona Cardinals (10-2)
Location: State Farm Stadium
Day/Time: Monday, Dec. 13, 8:15 p.m. ET
Television: ESPN

Rams vs Cardinals Betting Lines

Head-to-Head

The visiting Arizona Cardinals were listed as four-point underdogs by the NFL picks against the spread against the Los Angeles Rams when the top two teams in the NFC West met on Oct. 3.

The Rams led by three points at the end of the first quarter but the Cardinals had four touchdowns, three field goals, and only one punt in a stretch of eight possession to pull away for the 37-20 win to remain undefeated at the time.

Arizona snapped a two-game losing streak to the Rams.

The game went over the 54-point total on a touchdown pass by the Rams’ Matthew Stafford with 1:14 left to play. It was the third time in the last four meetings that the total went over.

Los Angeles Rams

Next game: vs. Seattle

Last Game

The Los Angeles Rams were favored by 14 points against the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars according to the NFL betting lines.

The Rams outscored Jacksonville 21-0 in the second half en route to a 37-7 win as the Rams snapped a three-game losing streak and stopped a run of five straight games of failing to cover against the spread.

The game went under the 44-point total in large part due to the Rams’ decision to run the ball after taking a 30-point lead with 10:52 remaining.

Injury Report

Offensive lineman Brian Allen (ankle), linebacker Justin Hollins (pectoral) and cornerback David Long (illness) are questionable. Offensive lineman Tremayne Anchrun (knee) is on injured reserve.

Arizona Cardinals

Next game: at Detroit

Last Game

The visiting Arizona Cardinals were eight-point favorites according to the scores and odds against the Chicago Bears.

Murray threw for one touchdown and ran for another to give Arizona the quick 14-point lead. It was a 10-point lead heading into the fourth quarter before an Arizona field goal and another TD run by Murray pushed the lead to 19. A late touchdown and two-point conversion by the Bears made the final 33-22 as Arizona covered for the third time in the last four games.

Murray’s touchdown run in the fourth quarter put the game over the 43-point total as this was the third time in the last four games that one of Arizona’s games went over the total.

Injury Report

Running back Chase Edmonds (ankle), defensive tackle Rashard Lawrence (calf), offensive lineman Justin Pugh (calf) are questionable. Safety James Wiggins (knee) is out.

Rams vs Cardinals Final Betting Analysis

The running back situation bears watching. Edmonds has a chance to return to the lineup while Sony Michel ran for more than 100 yards for the Rams last week with Darrell Henderson out.

Rams receiver Cooper Kupp leads the NFL with 100 receptions and 1,366 receiving yards. He has gone over 100 yards in each of the last two games but was held to season lows of five catches and 64 receiving yards in the first game this season against Arizona.

#Rams Cooper Kupp is the fourth player with at least 100 receptions in his team’s first 12 games of a season in NFL history.#RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/ip36urER44

— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) December 8, 2021

Arizona is 6-0 when Markus Golden has at least one sack

These are two of the most explosive offenses in the NFL and some key pieces are starting to get healthy. Arizona has scored more than 30 points six times during its current seven-game winning streak.

Arizona is second in the NFL with a +12 turnover margin and is one of four teams with at least 10 fumble recoveries and interceptions. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has had some turnover issues in recent weeks.

Arizona has not covered against the Las Vegas odds in its last six games against the Rams but is 8-2 against the spread in its last 10 games.

While the total has gone under in four of the Rams’ last six games, this game seems more likely to go over the 51½-point total.