The Arizona Cardinals (7-8) visit the Los Angeles Rams (9-6) with LA on the verge of a playoff spot. The Rams’ easiest way to ensure entry to the postseason tournament is to keep winning. Our Cardinals vs Rams prediction is for favored Los Angeles to cover the 6.5-point spread.
Head-to-head, the Rams lead with a record of 52-41-2.
Offshore Odds: LA is Favored by 6.5 Points
| Team | Spread | Money Line | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinals | +6.5 (-106) | +260 | O 47.5 (-105) |
| Rams | -6.5 (-114) | -310 | U 47.5 (-115) |
Arizona Has Been Eliminated
Arizona surprisingly won six of its first ten games and was in first place in the tough NFC West. Then, it lost four of five and fell from contention.
Two losses were backbreakers. In Week 13, the Vikings scored a touchdown with little over a minute remaining to beat them 23-22. In Week 16, they lost to the rapidly improving Panthers in overtime.
Now, they have the opportunity to play spoiler against the Rams.
These games are difficult to gauge because the on-field result is based more on motivation than matchups.
How hard is Arizona going to play with nothing to play for?
Of course, the NFL wants every team to go all out, but if the Cardinals have checked out, the game could get out of hand.
The Cardinals are fifth in the league in average rushing yards per game and the Rams are vulnerable to the run, but how much will Arizona’s top running back James Connor play?
In games like this, the team with nothing to play for usually plays hard for a quarter or two. If they fall behind, they quiet quit.
LA and Its Playoff Possibilities
The Rams were expected to have a transition year. With the retirement of future Hall of Fame defensive tackle Aaron Donald and their 1-4 start, they teetered on trading veteran stars to load up on draft picks, looking toward the future.
However, the combination of a watered-down NFC West, the San Francisco 49ers’ injuries and dysfunction, and the Rams finding ways to win got them back into contention. There are two games left in the regular season and Los Angeles has several pathways to the playoffs.
Seattle’s lumbering 6-3 win over Chicago on Thursday Night Football makes it difficult for LA to clinch the NFC West in Week 17. However, they can with the ifs and thens of the trigonometric NFL playoff scenarios.
Regardless, their lives will be made much easier if they beat Arizona.
The Cardinals blew them out 41-10 in Arizona in Week 2, so in addition to the playoff implications, LA would like some payback.
LA enters the game almost completely healthy.
Cardinals vs Rams Prediction: Arizona is Looking Toward the Offseason
The game matters to the Rams and does not matter to the Cardinals. After putting up early resistance, Arizona will back down and Los Angeles will win, covering the 6.5-point spread.
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