If you haven’t noticed…things change awfully quickly in the National Football League. A year ago, the Los Angeles Rams were the mad scientist of the wild west, trading picks for the privilege of playing stars and pairing geniuses with golden boy understudies to bring home a Super Bowl Championship.
After #NFLWeek10, the Rams are 3-6. They reside in the cellar of a division they once ran. Their first round pick is in the hands of the Detroit Lions. Matt Stafford’s elbow hasn’t gotten any healthier. Sean McVay is closer to commentating a Super Bowl than coaching in one.
Poor offensive line play and an incredible list of injuries have stunted a progression-based offense that revolves around quality pass protection. The run game has deteriorated, their offseason acquisitions have fallen flat, and the defense isn’t exactly sunshine ☀️ and rainbows 🌈 , either.
The only thing keeping this offense even close to professional was its ability to funnel targets to an elite wide receiver. One who’s good enough to carry the burden of a broken offense and versatile enough to punish defenses from any alignment. Cooper Kupp is headed to injured reserve with a high ankle sprain. Los Angeles’ season is over. 😥
How should I bet on the Rams?
Kupp’s surgery will take him out at least four weeks. In the meantime, the Rams will struggle to stay afloat, though that’s generous phrasing. They’ll fight to stay off the ocean floor, but they’re still far away from sunlight.
When it comes to our #NFLbetting endeavors, few non-quarterbacks mean as much as Kupp. It shouldn’t be surprising to see them as three-point underdogs to the New Orleans Saints per DraftKings. At +100, you have a chance to double your money if Los Angeles covers. If you think the Rams rally around their hurt horse, you can sign up for DraftKings through their promotion for BetBasics readers: BET $5 GET $150 IN BONUS BETS.
That bet doesn’t exactly catch my eye. I still think New Orleans is better than their record, and at home after an embarrassing loss is a good place to start a new win streak. I’m not sure who’ll be quarterbacking, but their performance shouldn’t stray too far from Stafford, who has struggled mightily this year. Losing Kupp means losing his best option and first read on nearly every passing play. The shell of Allen Robinson doesn’t inspire any confidence and it’s clear Odell Beckham Jr. isn’t coming to save the day.
The lines haven’t been released yet, but keep your eye on two types of props. If you’d like to learn more about the specifics of prop betting, refer to the Basic Tips section below this piece. Taking the under on Rams running backs’ rushing yards and the over on Saints’ sacks may prove to be profitable. If the rushing line is inflated because of Los Angeles’ hesitancy to pass without their superstar, the general ineffectiveness of the offense could eliminate the backs’ production altogether 📉. Neither Darrell Henderson Jr. or Cam Akers are particularly enticing.
On the other side of the ledger, these Saints linemen must be licking their chops 😋. Losing Kupp takes the Rams out of their preferred looks and into uncertainty. In a league where pass rushers are quicker than ever, there’s profit to be had assuming the lines aren’t exceedingly unfavorable.
Oh, and Stafford is throwing an interception on Sunday. You can take that one to the bank.
There are plenty of opportunities in this #NFLWeek11 matchup to take advantage of. As long as you’re not betting on Los Angeles to make the playoffs, you’ll have given yourself a decent shot at a successful Sunday.
BASIC TIPS
Prop bets are wagers pertaining to a particular player in an upcoming matchup. They take the form of “over/unders” and “to record” categories. Examples of this would be Stafford over/under 0.5 interceptions, Henderson to score a touchdown, or Robinson to record 40+ receiving yards. Over/unders are more likely to be coin flip bets, so make sure you use BetBasics betting cards to gain the edge you need before placing.