It’s win and you’re in for both the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, when both of these NFC West rivals face off in a key NFL betting matchup at SoFi Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Arizona QB Kyler Murray left last week’s loss with a leg injury but it shouldn’t keep him from suiting up in Arizona’s biggest game of the year. Unfortunately for the Rams, Jared Goff (thumb) can't say the same thing as 26-year-old undrafted QB John Wolford will make the start for the injured Goff.
The Rams have owned the Cardinals, winning seven straight matchups but in Week 17, when both clubs are all-in, the Rams will be without the services of starting Goff, RBs Cam Akers and Darrell Henderson and possibly WR Cooper Kupp (COVID-19).
Despite all the missing pieces, NFL odds have the Rams and their No. 5 overall defense as slight -1 favorites, with some books offering this game as a pick’em. The total sits at 39.5, which is Week 17’s lowest total on the board.
Here are our NFL free picks and predictions for Cardinals vs. Rams on Sunday, January 3 (4:25 p.m. ET).
Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams Betting Preview
Weather
This game will be played indoors at SoFi Stadium. Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions for other Week 17 games with our NFL weather info.
Key Injuries
Cardinals: Larry Fitzgerald WR (Out), Christian Kirk WR (Out).
Rams: Jared Goff QB (Out), Darrell Henderson RB (Out), Cooper Kupp WR (Out), Michael Brockers DL (Out), Micah Kiser LB (Out), Andrew Whitworth T (Out).
Find our latest NFL injury reports.
Betting Trend to Know
The Under is 7-0 in the Cardinals' last seven road games. Find more NFL betting trends for Cardinals vs. Rams.
Moneyline Pick
Reports out of Arizona have been positive for QB Kyler Murray (leg) and his availability for Sunday. Likely at less than 100 percent, Murray will be physically limited against a Rams defense that held Arizona to a paltry 3.2 yards per play just four weeks ago.
With Murray’s lower-body injury liking zapping his quick first step, the Cardinals could be leaning on the run Sunday, which the Rams and their No. 3 rush defense would happily welcome. The offense may be decimated, but this is an L.A. defense that is capable of winning a game even with a no-name QB running the offense.
The biggest story will be undrafted QB John Wolford making his first NFL start for the Rams. Wolford likely won’t be asked to do too much and if things get ugly, Sean McVay will go with recently signed Blake Bortles, who was Goff’s backup last season. Bortles is a walking punching bag, but he offers a higher ceiling for an offense that still has some dangerous pieces in the passing game.
Also without two of their best running back, the Rams will likely be leaning on Malcolm Brown all game. Brown offers a three-down skillset as the running back leads the backfield in passing targets. Arizona has been giving up chunks of yards on the ground over the last three weeks, as its 5.6 YPC allowed is the fourth-highest mark in the league over that stretch.
With Murray’s up-and-down season and the overall strength of the Rams’ defense, we are rolling with the home team in one of 2020’s hardest-to-handicap games.
PREDICTION: Los Angeles Rams ML (-115)
Over/Under Pick
With a sub-40 total, something neither team has seen all year, scoring is not to be expected in a game featuring an injured Murray and some guy named Wolford. Both clubs will have to rely on the run game as Sunday’s game – and each teams' seasons – could come down to which team makes the fewest mistakes.
The Under has been a close friend to both clubs this year as the Cardinals and Rams are a combined 9-21 O/U. These two clubs did play to a 38-28 L.A. win in Week 13 but Goff, Akers and Henderson accounted for four TDs.
SoFi Stadium has also not been a place that has been kind to visiting teams this year. The Rams are 5-2 SU at home and a perfect 0-7 O/U. Field position will be at a premium on Sunday and when teams are getting excited about flipping the field, it’s time to bet the Under.
PREDICTION: Under 39.5 (-110)
Team Total Pick
SoFi has been a nightmare for L.A.’s opponents all year and a less-than-100-percent Murray may feel the wrath of a defense that knows it needs to step up to make the postseason.
Opponents are scoring a league-low 14.4 points at SoFi against the Rams this year, which is 3.7 points less than the next best team. Only two teams were able to put up more than 20 points against the Rams at home this year and three teams scored 10 or less.
Los Angeles will have to lean on its strengths if it wants to play a 17th game and giving motivation to an already dominant defense could be a load of trouble for a young QB and his offense.
PREDICTION: Arizona team total Under 21.5 (-115)
Cardinals vs Rams Betting Card
- Los Angeles Rams ML (-115)
- Under 39.5 (-110)
- Arizona team total Under 21.5 (-115)
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