Cardinals vs Rams Week 17 Predictions | NFL Picks Today, Best Bets
Grant White
Host · Writer
A win over the visiting Arizona Cardinals doesn’t guarantee the Los Angeles Rams the NFC West crown, but it moves them closer to achieving their goal. LA can secure the division title in Week 17 with a win and a little help in the Strength of Victory category. We’ll spare you some of the details, but essentially, if four of the Bengals, Commanders, Bills, 49ers, Vikings, and Browns win, then the Rams claim their first NFC West title since 2021. Standing in their way is a downtrodden Cardinals side that was eliminated from postseason contention with last week’s overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers. They must run out the clock with two divisional matchups, starting with Saturday’s clash versus the Rams. Motivation may be thin, but if the Cardinals embrace the role of spoiler, they could turn the NFC West on its head.
Where to Watch Cardinals vs Rams
- Location: SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, CA)
- Time: Saturday, December 28, 8:10 p.m. ET | Where to Watch: NFL Network
- Spread: Rams -6.5 | Moneyline: Rams -295 | Total: 47.5
Cardinals vs Rams Best Bet ATS: Cardinals +6.5
Offensively, the Cardinals have a pronounced advantage over Los Angeles. The Rams’ offense has been a little stagnant. The NFC West leaders are averaging a middling 331.5 yards per game on the season, which is on par with their recent performances. Over their past three, the Rams are hovering around the 333.7 mark. Despite the static production, the Rams have seen increased output. Over the same three-game sample, their scoring has jumped over three points, going from 21.9 to 25.0. That upward movement is unsubstantiated by their production metrics, suggesting the Rams are regression candidates over the final few weeks of the season. Conversely, the Cardinals have seen an uptick in production that just started to yield increased output. That trajectory should hold steady against a Rams team that has given up 79 points in their last two home games. As a result, we give the Cardinals the edge in covering the spread on Saturday.
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Cardinals vs Rams Best Bet Total: Under 47.5
The Rams and Cardinals have been reliable under teams on the season, a trend that should continue into Week 18. LA has stayed beneath the total in three of its past four, dropping them to 8-7 toward the under on the season. Additionally, with the Rams’ anticipated offensive regression, more low-scoring games seem like an inevitability over the final two weeks of the regular season. While Arizona has exceeded the total in three straight, they’ve still fallen below the number in four of the past seven. Moreover, they won’t face an all-out offensive attack from a Rams team that has prioritized defensive stability over run-and-gun offensive schemes. A slower tempo and possession-driven approach should help this game stay under 47.5.
Cardinals vs Rams Best Player Props
Kyler Murray Anytime Touchdown Scorer +330
The Los Angeles Rams aren’t the imposing defensive force they once were, particularly when stopping the run. Opponents are averaging 368.5 yards per game versus the Rams this season, with 131.4 of those coming via the ground game. That deficiency has been exposed by rushing quarterbacks in recent weeks. Josh Allen had a career day a few weeks ago, busting out for 82 yards and three touchdowns on 10 carries. Even old man Aaron Rodgers felt compelled to dust off his hips and go out for a run in last week’s clash versus the Rams. We expect Kyler Murray to be mobile in Saturday’s intra-divisional clash at SoFi Stadium. The Cardinals quarterback has 23 carries and 138 rushing yards over his past four games. Further, he had 59 yards on five carries when these teams met earlier in the year. Increased productivity should give way to more scoring. We’re betting Murray finds the end zone in Week 17, backing him as a meaty +330 option in the Anytime Touchdown Scorer market.
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