Simulation Picks
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks!
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks!
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks!
Understanding Public and Money
Expert Picks
The Rams and Seahawks both need this win, but Seattle is banged up, while Los Angles comes in healthy. That should be enough to overcome the obvious homefield advantage the Seahawks possess. Remember, the Rams' constant string of turnovers gave Seattle a ton of extra possessions in the last meeting. Not this time.
It's expected to be raining all day in Seattle with 15-mph winds making the passing game a struggle. That alone makes taking the Under an attractive bet. Both sides must get the ground game going, and the Rams have had much more success with their backs than the Seahawks -- although Russell Wilson is dangerous when he's taking off on his own. The Under has traditionally won out in this series, including the previous four matchups. Under is the top play.
The Rams should have won the first meeting, and I think they get revenge here. Their D-line will be the difference.
Seattle is one of the league’s best closers. When the calendar page is flipped to December, it’s historically Seahawk time. Rarely, though has its defense been so severely dented by injuries. The recent losses of CB Richard Sherman and SS Kam Chancellor have sapped the fear factor from opposing passers. Now, LBs K.J. Wright (concussion) and Bobby Wagner (hamstring) might sit. DE Michael Bennett (foot, knee) has just one sack in the past five games. L.A.’s offense has slipped a notch since early this season but can slice and dice this defense. The clincher for me is this jaw-dropping stat: Of 33 offensive touchdowns by the ‘Hawks, QB Russell Wilson has thrown or run for all but one. At some point, the lopsided responsibility borne by one player will weight him down. That time might come Sunday.
Both the Rams and Seahawks are coming off tough losses. Returning home, the Seahawks will hope to build on the newfound offense that Russell Wilson has been the catalyst of recently. The Rams hope to avoid being swept by a Seahawks team that limited them to just 10 points in the first matchup. Look for the Rams to take advantage of implementing a better offensive blueprint against a Seahawks team that has masked injuries for over a month.
The Rams outplayed the Seahawks in their first meeting but were done in by turnovers -- five of their 17 giveaways this season came in that game. I like them to bounce back after a tough loss to a contending team, and I'm not worried about taking them on the road, where they're 5-1 this season. The banged-up Seattle defense has been torched the last couple weeks (though they largely kept Philly off the scoreboard in that game), and they could be without their leader Bobby Wagner here. The Rams have top-five units across the board in DVOA and know they need this game to win the division. I like them to pull it out.