L.A. Rams (9-5 8-6 ATS) at Seattle Seahawks (10-4 7-7 ATS)
The Rams are coming off a shocking loss and they head to the Great Northwest to face the Seahawks in a game where the NFC West title may be on the line. The Seahawks are a slight 1.5-point home favorite in this division matchup with the total sitting at 47.5.
Even at home and with the Rams losing their last game the public has backed L.A., as they opened as a 2-point underdog and as of Wednesday are a 1.5-point dog.
In their last game, the Rams lost to a New York Jets team that came into the game winless. Not only did they allow the Jets to get their first win of the season but it snapped L.A.’s two-game winning streak.
The Seahawks are coming off a 20-15 win over the Washington Football Team and they have won two in a row and four of their last five games
Seattle has a one-game lead over L.A. in the NFC West but lost to them earlier this season and if they lose this game the Rams are in the driver’s seat to win the division and host a first-round playoff game.
L.A. has the defense but can Jared Goff and the offense get it done? Earlier this season the team beat the Seahawks 23-16 where the offense was decent but the D forced three turnovers and the turnovers is what Seattle has been avoiding in the last few games.
The Seahawks have covered the spread in nine of their last 13 games against the Rams.
Seattle has only lost one game at home this season and that was a surprising loss to the Giants. However, that is the only loss for the Seahawks in their last five games.
Forget the Loss
The Rams have to forget their loss to the Jets, which was at home no less, where their #1 ranked defense was beaten by a Jets team that has the worst offense in the league.
L.A. has been trying to establish the run in their last several games but why? The Rams have won their last three games when Goff has passed for over 300 yards. He only ranks 23rd in the league in QBR and has two picks in his last two games but in the last two L.A. losses, he has only passed for 209 yards and 198 yards respectively.
Cam Akers has come on as of late and leads the Rams in rushing yards. He has played well but two of his three highest rushing totals in the last four games have resulted in losses.
Goff will be playing a Seattle secondary that has played much better in the second half of the season and has to avoid the slow start that was a big reason the Rams lost to the Jets.
D is Picking Up
The Seattle D has only given up an average of 14.6 ppg in their last five games and their pass defense has really improved.
Russell Wilson has not been putting up big numbers but the offense has been steady with the return of lead RB Chris Carson. He and the WR duo of D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett give the Seahawks weapons and Wilson has to get the rock to them and avoid the turnover. He does have one pick in each of the last two games but that is better than the earlier loss to the Rams where he had two INT and lost a fumble.
The Rams have 44 sacks on the season led by Aaron Donald with 12.5 and he did not play in the easier season win over Seattle.
Prediction
While the Rams are 4-0 ATS in their last four games facing a team with a winning record the Seahawks are 5-2 ATS in their last seven home games.
I cannot go against the Seahawks at home, as I think in this huge game Wilson will come up big and trump the L.A. defense. If they win this game they will win the NFC West and that is exactly what they will do. Seattle will not blow out L.A., who will come back strong after the bad loss to the Jets, but they will make the big plays on both sides of the ball to win and cover in their house.
PICK: Seahawks -1.5