The Atlanta Falcons picked up a critical win in the regular season finale to make the playoffs, so they will have a chance to reach the Super Bowl for the second consecutive year. But it’s not going to be easy.
The Falcons will begin their trek on the road against the Los Angeles Rams, who have been one of the better teams in the NFL all season. The Rams were not expected to be very competitive this season but outperformed expectations from the get-go.
They are favored in this game and it will be intriguing to see how Los Angeles handles the bright lights of the postseason. If they play as well as they did in the regular season, Atlanta’s defense of its conference title could be short-lived.
Watch this NFC wild card matchup live on Saturday, January 6, 2018, at 8:15 p.m. ET at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Opening NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Atlanta Falcons +6
Los Angeles Rams -6
Over/Under 48.5
Odds Analysis
The oddsmakers are giving the Rams a lot of respect, listing them as nearly touchdown favorites in this showdown. The betting public agrees with the large spread as more than two-thirds of the action is on Los Angeles to cover.
The spread is higher than most games as both of these teams can really score. The “over” is still the more popular play as bettors are expecting a shootout.
The Rams are listed as -300 favorites on the moneyline, while the Falcons come in as +245 underdogs. This is where the bettors like Atlanta, as more than 72 percent of the action is on the Falcons to pull the upset at these odds.
Injury Report
Andy Levitre — The Falcons’ left guard re-injured his triceps in Sunday’s game against the Panthers and was forced to leave in the first quarter. The injury has already caused Levitre to miss three games this season. Ben Garland replaced Levitre on the left side.
Taylor Gabriel — Atlanta’s wide receiver suffered a hamstring injury against the Panthers. While Julio Jones is the team’s star pass-catcher, Gabriel is a speedster with big-play ability. Keep a close eye on his status because while he won’t affect the spread, the Falcons would really like to have him.
Key Stat
29.8. That’s the number of points per game the Rams scored in 2017, which was the top mark in the NFL. It was a staggering turnaround, as they were ranked last in scoring in 2016. Coach Sean McVay is a play-calling savant and really got the team rolling.
Quarterback Jared Goff took a huge stride forward, throwing for 3,804 yards with 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Running back Todd Gurley is an MVP candidate after he rushed for 1,305 yards and added 64 catches for 788 yards.
The Falcons have a defense that has more talent than in the past, but it will need several different players to step up in order to slow down Los Angeles. The Falcons had the best offense in the NFL a year ago, and it propelled them to the Super Bowl. The Rams would love to be the new upstart to make it there from the NFC this year.
Free ATS Pick
The Rams rested many of their key starters in the regular season finale and should be ready to go. The question is how they will respond to reaching the playoffs for the first time. The Falcons have a ton of experience and a talented group.
Los Angeles is flying high and should win this game, but it’s going to come down to the wire. Take Atlanta to cover this spread on the road. The “over” is the easy choice as these teams will light up the scoreboard.
NFL Odds: Rams 31, Falcons 27
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