The NFL offers up a very good NFC West rivalry to watch and bet when the Rams take on the Seahawks in Seattle for this week’s edition of Thursday night football. Los Angeles just suffered its first loss of this season, while the Seahawks just used a divisional road win to avoid what would have been a three-game losing skid.
The Seahawks aren’t often lined as home dogs, but they’re catching a couple of points here. Who do we like here for our free NFL betting pick?
NFL Betting Lines
The Week 5 NFL betting odds opened the Rams as one-point road favorites for this game, with an over/under of right around 54.5. Early betting action then bumped LA to -2.
Rams Betting Preview
Los Angeles is 3-1 on the season after losing at home to Arizona last week 37-20. The Rams, playing as favorites at -3.5, led 10-7 after the first quarter but trailed 24-13 at the half. LA then gave up the first 13 points of the second half on its way toward a disappointing defeat.
The Rams, who ranked No. 1 in the league in total defense last season, gave up 465 yards of of-fense to the Cardinals last week, including 216 on the ground. Los Angeles also lost time of pos-session by a 35:25 split and lost the turnover battle 2-0, resulting in a -14 points differential.
LA opened this season with a 34-14 victory over Chicago, then won at Indianapolis 27-24, then beat defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay 34-24. So we think last week’s performance was probably an aberration.
Seahawks Betting Preview
Seattle, meanwhile, is 2-2 on the season after winning at San Francisco last week 28-21. The Seahawks, playing as dogs of 2.5 points, spotted the 49ers the first seven points of the game but battled to a 7-7 tie into halftime. Seattle then scored the first 14 points out of the locker room and held on from there for the victory.
The Seahawks actually got out-gained last week 457-234 but won the turnover battle 2-0, creat-ing a +7 points differential.
Seattle opened this season with a 28-16 win at Indianapolis, then blew a game against Tennessee, then lost at Minnesota 30-17. The Seahawks have also been out-gained and out-rushed each of their last three games.
Rams-Seahawks Recent History
Los Angeles is 6-2 SU, 5-3 ATS over the last eight meetings with Seattle. Last season these teams split their two regular-season meetings, each winning at home, but the Rams then beat the Sea-hawks in an NFC wild-card playoff game in Seattle 30-20.
In those three games last season, Los Angeles out-rushed the Seahawks by a per-game margin of 129-115.
Also, two of those three games played under on the totals.
- Get more details: Rams vs. Seahawks Match-up Stats
NFL Betting Trends
- Home teams are just 30-33 SU, 27-36 ATS in the NFL this season.
- Favorites are 37-27 SU, 26-38 ATS in the NFL this season.
- Home dogs are 8-15 SU, 12-11 ATS in the NFL this season.
Totals Report
Overs are 4-0 in Rams games this season, which are averaging 54 total points.
The Under is 3-1 in Seahawks games this season, which are averaging 51 points.
The Under is 37-27 in the NFL this season.
