The last time we saw the Seahawks in a game that mattered they were throwing the ball away in a Super Bowl loss to New England in February. They are again the preseason NFC favorite at +222 to reach a third consecutive title game.
The Rams are a favorite as well – to relocate to Los Angeles. The teams have a history of low scoring encounters with the under at 8-2 in the last 10 meetings and there’s no reason for this game to be any different.
ODDS
Seattle opened at -3 and the line was wagered up to -4. There’s been significant movement on the total, which opened at 43 and has since dropped to 40.5. Both teams have trustworthy defenses and questions on offense, giving the under plenty of value.
KEY INJURIES
Kam Chancellor – Remains embroiled in a contract dispute and will not play.
Tarvaris Jackson – Seattle’s backup quarterback is still rehabbing a high ankle sprain he sustained in the preseason and has been limited with his mobility. Should something happen to Russell Wilson and Jackson in unavailable, B.J. Daniels, who made the roster as a receiver, is the third option.
Tre Mason – Is nursing a hamstring injury so Benny Cunningham and Isaiah Pead will likely get the majority of carries out of the Rams backfield. St. Louis is still waiting for top draft pick Todd Gurley to recover from knee surgery.
KEY MISMATCH
There are some pieces missing, but Seattle’s Legion of Boom defense is as solid as ever. Coordinator Dan Quinn is now the head coach in Atlanta and safety Chancellor is still out over a contract dispute, but the front seven still features plenty of depth and quality. The group could be even better with the addition of end Frank Clark. Chancellor’s holdout and the departure of cornerback Byron Maxwell to Philadelphia force some reshuffling in the secondary. Cary Williams was signed to play opposite Richard Sherman, and Dion Bailey will play with Earl Thomas at the safety spots. After the Rams first string offense showed little during the preseason, they are now down to their third running back. The Rams needed some trickery to upset the Seahawks last season and are unlikely to pull off the same feat with a team on the lookout for such plays.
KEY STAT
15.9 – Seattle allowed a league-low in points per game in 2014 and has the tools to be as good this season. St. Louis struggled to score in the preseason, totaling 44 points for an average of 12 per game and failed to score more than 17 in any of the four games.
BETTING ANGLE
Pete Carroll has built a dynasty in his five seasons as head coach of the Seahawks, taking his team to the playoffs four times with back-to-back Super Bowl appearances and a league title following the 2013 season. Over the same span the Rams haven’t won more than seven games while failing to qualify for the postseason. But since the 2010 season, the Rams have beaten Seattle three times in five games in St. Louis going 4-1 ATS. The Rams pulled out a 28-26 win at the Edward Jones Dome in last season’s meeting, cashing the over for the first time in the last five meetings there.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The Rams can cause plenty of problems with a defensive front that is one of the best in the NFL so look for the Seahawks to utilize their new weapon, tight end Jimmy Graham, a lot in this game. Seattle has better overall talent on defense and the Rams haven’t shown anybody that they can move the football with Nick Foles behind center. St. Louis will also have running backs buried on the depth chart trying to move the chains with an O-line that is still a work in progress. The Rams need their D to come up big giving the offense a short field to work with. That’s a possibility going against Seattle’s offensive line that has questions of its own. Watch for a special teams play and field goals to decide what is sure to be a close, low-scoring game.
Seattle 16, St.Louis 13
The NFL odds for this Sunday game were first available at BookMaker Sportsbook. The Seahawks were pegged as 3-point chalk while the total opened at 43. Gamble on the game between every commercial break with BookMaker’s live betting feature. Along with an adjusted in-game moneyline, you can wager on what will happen on the next play or how many points will be scored in the next quarter. Live betting is the most exciting way to play!
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