Los Angeles Rams vs. Detroit Lions – Picks & Predictions
The Los Angeles Rams (10-7) will face the Detroit Lions (12-5) in Sunday’s NFC Wild Card Playoff matchup from Ford Field.
Odds are live on NFL betting sites featuring a mix of compelling spreads, totals, moneylines, props and NFL betting promos.
Head-To-Head: Rams vs. Lions
The Rams and Lions have faced each other just once in the postseason, and Detroit will host its first playoff game since 1993 after winning the NFC Central title. This will also be their biggest meeting since the 2021 blockbuster trade when the teams swapped starting quarterbacks.
Los Angeles finished second in the NFC West behind the San Francisco 49ers, whom they defeated 21-10 in the regular season finale. The Rams were 3-6 after the first nine games, with little hope of making the postseason, but proceeded to win seven of their final eight matchups, with their only loss coming against the Baltimore Ravens in overtime in Week 14.
The Rams and Lions have played each other 87 times, with LA holding a 45-41-1 advantage. The only time they met in the playoffs was in 1952, with Detroit taking a 31-21 victory. The Lions have won the previous two games, including a 28-19 win the last time they faced off in 2021.
How to Bet on Rams vs. Lions
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Rams vs. Lions Odds
The Lions are -3 favorites on the road, with the moneyline on Detroit paying -166 odds. Picking the Rams to win outright pays bettors +140 odds, and the over/under for the contest is 51.5.
Betting Tips for Rams vs. Lions
The Rams are 5-3-1 on the road against the spread, and the total has gone over in three of their nine games away from home in the regular season. Los Angeles is 2-11 in the last 13 games as road underdogs.
Detroit is 5-1 against the spread in the last six games and has scored 30 points or more in eight of their previous 11 games. The Lions have lost eight straight playoff games and are 1-12 in the postseason since 1970.
Rams vs. Lions Predictions
Los Angeles wasn’t expected to contend for a playoff spot this season after they apparently started rebuilding in the offseason. However, they still have several key starters remaining from the 2022 Super Bowl championship squad. They also have a dangerous weapon in rookie WR Puka Nacua, who set the all-time rookie record for receiving yards in a season with 1,486 on 105 receptions in 2023.
The Rams are 3-1 in the playoffs since 2017 and have a 2-0 record against the Lions with Sean McVay as head coach.
The Lions have had less success in the playoffs than any team in the Super Bowl era, but they are a much different team than in past postseasons. Detroit has also added a couple of notable rookies to its roster this season, including TE Sam LaPorta, who broke the NFL rookie record for receptions by a tight end with 120 catches, and running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who gained 1,251 all-purpose yards in the regular season.
The key for Detroit is to limit the Rams’ potent running attack, as their offense will likely be too much for the Rams’ defense to handle on Sunday night.
Prediction: Detroit Lions -3
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