Rams vs. Cardinals Point Spread: NFL Week 2 Odds, Prediction
The Cardinals return to the desert for their home opener after falling just short last weekend in a feisty 34-28 loss to the Buffalo Bills. The Rams opened their campaign in primetime, dropping a narrow 26-20 overtime decision on the road to the Detroit Lions, snapping a four-game straight up win streak in regular season action.
The Cardinals return home perched as slim 1-point favourites on the NFL Week 2 odds. The Rams trail as +100 moneyline underdogs and the total is listed at 48.5.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Rams swept their season series with the Cardinals in 2023, posting a pair of lopsided wins including a 37-14 victory in Arizona and have now earned the win in nine straight visits to State Farm Stadium and 12 of 14 head-to-head clashes overall.
Each of the past 15 meetings between these teams have been settled by at least seven points, with the Rams rolling to victory by double-digit margins 10 times during their current 12-2 run. However, those lopsided contests have translated into uneven results in NFL totals betting, with the OVER going just 7-7 over their past 14 dates.
The Cardinals have struggled to reward loyal NFL betting fans when pegged as home chalk by three or fewer points, going a meagre 4-6-1 SU in their past 11 and covering the spread just once in their past seven.
Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford orchestrated a second-half comeback in his most recent road date with his former Lions teammates, highlighted by an 80-yard drive late in the fourth that finished with a scoring pass to Cooper Kupp to claim a narrow lead. However, the Rams defence were unable to hold the lead, with the Lions eking out a field goal in the dying seconds and marching to the win on a 70-yard drive in extra time. That marked just the third time that the Rams have allowed more than 25 points since Week 2 of last season.
But while the Rams have consistently shut down the Cardinals attack in recent meetings, they can ill afford to underestimate an Arizona squad that enjoyed an offensive spark last week. Stafford enjoyed a big night despite seeing receiver Puka Nacua leave the game early with a knee injury, tossing for 317 yards and one score while tossing one pick. The veteran pivot has also connected on 21 total scoring passes in his past 10 appearances versus Arizona. However, with both Nacua and offensive tackle Steve Avila now sidelined by injury, Stafford -140 odds to throw for multiple scores is far from a lock.
Arizona Cardinals
Doormats in the NFC West in each of the past two seasons, the Cardinals made their case to be taken seriously in last week’s visit to Buffalo. The Cards marched to an early 17-3 lead over the Bills before Buffalo pivot Josh Allen took matters into his own hands by tossing for two touchdowns and running for two more. Kyler Murray deserves credit for his steady management of the Cardinals offence in a losing cause, completing 21 passes for 162 yards and one score, along with a team-high 57 rushing yards.
However, Murray could use more help from the Arizona offensive line, which allowed him to be tackled four times. James Conner tallied his first scoring run of the year while compiling just 50 rushing yards. But with the Rams hobbled by injury, Conner could be poised to breakthrough at home, where he averaged 83.7 rushing yards last season in a game that the Cards have made a priority to win.
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