Teams looking to get off to a fast start to the regular season clash on Sunday Night Football when the Los Angeles Rams meet the Detroit Lions. Detroit ended Los Angeles’ season a year ago when it posted a 24-23 Wild Card victory. The Rams (10-7), who were second behind San Francisco in the NFC West, were dominant within the conference, posting an 8-4 mark. The Lions (12-5), who won their first division title in 30 years, were nearly automatic at home, going 6-2 at Ford Field.
Kickoff from Detroit is set for 8:20 p.m. ET. The Lions had the second-best passing offense in the NFL a year ago, averaging 258.9 passing yards per game, while the Rams were 10th at 239. Detroit is a 4.5-point favorite in the latest Rams vs. Lions odds via SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 53.5. Before you make any Lions vs. Rams picks or predictions, you need to see what proven SportsLine NFL expert R.J. White has to say, given his mastery of picks involving the Lions.
White, a Fantasy and gambling editor for CBS Sports, consistently crushes against-the-spread picks and has gone 643-543-34 on his ATS picks from 2017-23, which returned more than $4,600 to $100 players. He also went 101-84-4 (+1366) on all NFL spread picks last season. White also has a strong read on the Lions. He is an outstanding 62-44-2 (+1275) on his last 108 picks in games involving Detroit.
Now, White has locked in on Rams vs. Lions from every angle and just locked in his picks and predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are several NFL odds on the spread, over-under, and money-line for NFL betting on Lions vs. Rams:Â
- Rams vs. Lions spread: Detroit -4.5
- Rams vs. Lions over/under: 53.5 points
- Rams vs. Lions money line: Los Angeles +175, Detroit -210
- LAR: Rams have won 12 of their last 20 games (+6.80 units)
- DET: Lions have covered the spread in 16 of their last 21 games (+10.50 units)
- Rams vs. Lions:Â See picks at SportsLineÂ
Why the Lions can cover
Quarterback Jared Goff is coming off one of his best seasons to date. The nine-year veteran played in all 17 regular-season games a year ago, completing 407 of 605 passes (67.3%) for 4,575 yards, 30 touchdowns and 12 interceptions for a rating of 97.9, fourth-best of his career. He was even better in the postseason. In three games, he completed 77 of 111 passes (69.4%) for 837 yards and four touchdowns with zero interceptions and a 103.3 rating.
Goff’s top target was wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. The fourth-year veteran led Detroit with 119 receptions for 1,515 yards (12.7 average) and 10 touchdowns. He had 24 explosive plays of 20 yards or more with a long of 70 yards. He also converted 75 first downs and had 668 yards after the catch. In the postseason, he made 22 catches for 274 yards (12.5 average) and one score. See which team to back here.
Why the Rams can cover
Running back Kyren Williams is a major weapon on offense for Los Angeles. Despite missing significant time last season, he still rushed for well over 1,000 yards. In just 12 games, he carried 228 times for 1,144 yards (5.0 average) and 12 touchdowns. He had seven explosive plays of 20 or more yards, including a season-high 56-yarder. He eclipsed the 100-yard mark in six games, including a 20-carry, 158-yard and one touchdown effort in a 26-9 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Oct. 15.
Despite the retirement of defensive tackle Aaron Donald, the Rams remain a force on defense. Expected to carry the load will be second-year defensive tackle Kobie Turner, who led Los Angeles in sacks with nine. He was among the team’s top tacklers with 57 stops, including 29 solo, with eight tackles for loss and two pass breakups. See which team to pick here.
How to make Lions vs. Rams picks
White has analyzed Rams vs. Lions from every possible angle and while we can tell you he’s leaning Under on the point total, he has also discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread. He’s sharing what it is, and which side to back, only at SportsLine.
Who wins Rams vs. Lions on Sunday Night Football, and which critical X-factor makes one side of the spread a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Rams vs. Lions spread to back, all from the expert who is 62-44 on picks in games involving Detroit, and find out.