Cardinals vs. Rams Point Spread: NFL Week 10 Odds, Prediction
The Rams fell just short last weekend in a 13-10 loss in Tampa Bay, and have now scored 14 or fewer points four times during a dismal 1-4 run. The Cardinals have not fared much better, and now ride a two-game slide of their own after dropping a 31-21 decision to the NFC West-leading Seattle Seahawks last weekend.
The Rams have held steady since opening as 3-point home favourites, and have garnered the backing of 55% of sports bettors. The total has dipped to 43.5 since opening at 45, with the betting action evenly split between the OVER and UNDER.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Sunday afternoon’s matchup at SoFi Stadium marks the second and final meeting of the season between these NFC West rivals. The Rams escaped with a 20-12 victory when they visited Arizona back in Week 3, and have now topped the Cardinals in 11 of 12 clashes since the end of the 2016 campaign. Los Angeles has also paid out against the spread on 10 occasions during their steady run against the Cardinals, with all 11 of their recent head-to-head victories coming by at least a touchdown, and eight coming by double-digit margins. Indeed, the Rams defence has been effective at shutting down the Cardinals, holding Arizona to just 11.5 points per game in their past two dates, and to 12 or fewer points on seven occasions during their 11-1 run. That has contributed to mixed results in totals betting, with the UNDER prevailing in two straight to end a 4-1 run for the OVER.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals’ defensive woes continued in last weekend’s loss to the Seahawks. The squad blew leads on two occasions, and surrendered three touchdowns in the second half to mark their third straight meltdown after recess. Overall, the Cardinals have allowed a worrisome 33 points per game over their past three outings, and given up an average of 20.3 points in the second half over that stretch. The team has particularly struggled against the rush while allowing five scoring runs over the past two weeks.
Quarterback Kyler Murray has done his part to spark the Cardinals offence, connecting on 70.4% of pass attempts and tossing for six scores over the past three weeks. However, Murray has enjoyed little help from a battered offensive line that has allowed him to get sacked 17 times over the past four weeks. And while DeAndre Hopkins has made two scoring catches in three games since returning from suspension, he was the target of heated words from Murray in the dying moments of last week’s loss, raising concerns about chemistry between the two stars.
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams’ offensive woes continued in last week’s loss to the struggling Buccaneers. For the fourth time in five games, the Rams failed to find the end zone after halftime, and have now scored an average of just 15 points over their past six contests. Matthew Stafford had another tough day in Tampa Bay. The veteran quarterback connected on just 13 of 27 pass attempts for just 165 yards and one score, and has now tossed for just four total touchdowns over the past six games. Stafford has also been regularly victimized by opposing defenders, who sacked him four times last week, and 19 times over the past five outings. Complicating matters are reports that Stafford entered concussion protocol on Wednesday afternoon, and if he is unavailable for Sunday, look for backup John Wolford to get his first start of the season.
Despite battling injuries, receiver Cooper Kupp has continued to remain a bright spot. Kupp has made three of the team’s past four scoring catches, and his 127-yard performance last weekend marked the fourth time this season he has topped 120 yards.
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