The Los Angeles Rams are favored on the road tonight against a division foe that they lead by one game in the standings. The Rams are the better team and coming off a loss suffered at home against the still undefeated Arizona Cardinals. The Seahawks are in a better wagering situation with points at home.
Taking the Rams requires one to think that last week’s loss was a blip on an otherwise straight-up trajectory. They’ve got good reasons to think this. The Rams have one of the best defenses in the league with a dominant player on the line and an offense that has been supercharged by a veteran quarterback in the best position of his life to succeed.
Betting against the Rams is generally a bad idea, and following a game that they lost seems too risky while recognizing the Rams ability to snap back with a win off a defeat.
The Rams opened as a one point favorite, and the bettors piled on at a pace nearing 70% for the road team in Seattle. The books moved the line accordingly, which now has Los Angeles favored by 2½ points.
What is standing between the Seahawks and an almost certain home underdog point spread win in this spot is that the Rams are not in first place, they trail the undefeated Arizona Cardinals by a game. The Rams are 3-1, the Cardinals, 4-0.
If the Rams were 3-1 and the Seahawks were 2-2, just like they are, but the Cardinals were 1-3 and 49ers 2-2, then a Seahawks win would be easily attainable in this spot based clearly on the Rams having a cushion. If they lose, they are no worse than in a tie for first, with a win, they push Seattle back two games in the NFC West race.
But the Rams are not challenged only by the Seahawks tonight, they are also working to keep within a game of the front running Cardinals. Not being in first place for a team as good as the Rams is enough of a reason to respect they could win this game even on the road as a favorite against the Seahawks.
If they do win, as a favorite in this spot and cover, we know a couple things for sure. The Rams are really good, and the Seahawks are in big trouble.
Pete Carroll has had a legacy building career in Seattle, twice led the Seahawks to the Super Bowl. Winning one with a dominating victory over Peyton Manning and his Indianapolis Colts, 43-8, and the following year dropping a nailbiter to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX, 28-24.
Because Russell Wilson has been so special at quarterback, the Seahawks have won games that without his extraordinary contribution could not have ended in victory. It seems good on the day it happens, but after a while those victories cost position when the allocation of college talent is distributed through the National Football League Draft.
The Seahawks have not added any impact players on either side of the ball, and in no way is this the strongest team Wilson has guided. But the talented quarterback gives them an advantage, especially in front of home fans in Seattle, that a wager against Wilson and company appears to be tempting fate.
So, what does that leave us with?
A Rams team good enough to win on talent alone off a loss chasing the Cardinals in the NFC West.
The Seahawks are at home, bet against and getting points, a solid wagering proposition.
Talent, situation, motivation are all clearly dealt to the competitors in this NFL contest. The Rams win on talent and the Seahawks get the nod in the situation category as a home team bet against underdog with a growing point spread.
Football favors the Rams. Wagering edges towards Seahawks.
I’m very interested in the outcome of this one without a clue to whether the talent or situation will carry the night.