NFL Odds Today: Cardinals at Rams Predictions

It’s going to be tough to follow up the Monday night football game between the Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills to close out Week 5. The two Super Bowl contenders traded blows throughout the evening, proving they are two of the top NFL teams in the league.

Buffalo came out on top after another crucial special teams’ mistake from Los Angeles, and that knocked the preseason Super Bowl champions down to 2-3 on the season. 

Thus, it should come as no surprise that the Los Angeles Rams are the biggest favorite of the week per the NFL odds, as they desperately need a win over the Arizona Cardinals. Meanwhile, in the NFL tonight, the Dallas Cowboys will try to get back to .500 when they face the Green Bay Packers in Lambeau Field.

NFL Games Today and Tonight

Only three-quarters of the NFL teams will be in action on Sunday, October 18. Four teams are on a bye week, so there are fewer contenders for the top football game of the day. Chicago and Atlanta will be my choice as the Falcons have been extremely competitive since Michael Penix Jr. returned to action and Caleb Williams is expected to be under center for the first time since Week 2.

Who Plays Football Tonight?

There will be plenty of flashbacks to the famous Ice Bowl when the Green Bay Packers host the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL tonight. 

Top NFL Matchups to Watch Today

The Jacksonville Jaguars will play in London for the second straight week when they take on the Houston Texans, and the AFC favorite Buffalo Bills stayed on the West Coast this week in anticipation of their showdown with the Las Vegas Raiders. Also, the Philadelphia Eagles will host the Carolina Panthers in a showdown of division winners from last season.

NFL Odds for Today’s Games

The biggest favorite per the NFL lines today is the Los Angeles Rams. No other team is currently favored by more than 8.5 points according to the NFL odds. We have seen better offense from the NFL teams lately, so there are four games with totals over 50 this week. 

NFL Moneyline and Point Spread Odds

Jacksonville Jaguars -2.5 vs. Houston Texans
Atlanta Falcons +1.5 vs. Chicago Bears
Cleveland Browns +5.5 vs. Baltimore Ravens
Indianapolis Colts -7 vs. Tennessee Titans
New England Patriots -7.5 vs. New York Jets
New York Giants +1.5 vs. New Orleans Saints
Philadelphia Eagles +1.5 vs. Carolina Panthers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +2.5 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Los Angeles Rams -12.5 vs. Arizona Cardinals
Kansas City Chiefs -8.5 vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Las Vegas Raiders +5.5 vs. Buffalo Bills
Green Bay Packers -1.5 vs. Dallas Cowboys

NFL Totals and Over/Under Lines

O/U 42.5 in Jaguars vs. Texans
O/U 51.5 in Falcons vs. Bears
O/U 42.5 in Browns vs. Ravens
O/U 44.5 in Colts vs. Titans
O/U 43.5 in Patriots vs. Jets
O/U 45.5 in Giants vs. Saints
O/U 39.5 in Eagles vs. Panthers
O/U 39.5 in Buccaneers vs. Steelers
O/U 51.5 in Rams vs. Cardinals
O/U 42.5 in Chiefs vs. Chargers
O/U 53.5 in Raiders vs. Bills
O/U 53.5 in Packers vs. Cowboys

NFL Matchup Previews

Our featured football game has the highest spread of any game between NFL teams today. The Los Angeles Rams are favored by almost two touchdowns over the Arizona Cardinals as the Cardinals have the worst scoring defense per the NFL stats.

Offense vs. Defense Matchups

The Los Angeles Rams should be able to move the ball with ease against the Arizona Cardinals’ defense. Sean McVay’s offense ranks first in total yards and passing yards per game, while Arizona’s defense is allowing 32.4 PPG. On the other side of the ball, Arizona is averaging fewer yards per play (4.5 YPP) than any team in the league and will be facing an elite Rams defense even without Myles Garrett.

Key Matchup Advantages

This has all the makings of a blowout. The Rams are extremely unfortunate to be 2-3, as they rank first in total yards per game (424.4 YPG) and third in total yards allowed per game (285.2 YPG). Their yards per game differential is by far the highest in the league, but penalties and special teams miscues have the Rams looking up at both Seattle and San Francisco in the NFC West.

NFL Players to Watch Today

I called for Jared Goff and Jahmyr Gibbs to be some of the top performing NFL players last week, and that proved true. Goff threw three touchdown passes, while Gibbs had 30 touches for 207 yards and found the end zone twice. The Rams’ offense is likely to have a field day too, as will many NFL teams against this porous Arizona defense. Matthew Stafford will likely put up some of his best NFL stats of the season this week, and Davante Adams and Puka Nacua are likely to thrive as well.

Quarterbacks and Offensive Playmakers

Matthew Stafford leads the league in passing yards, but he has been far more turnover prone than usual. Stafford is completing 64.4% of his passes for 1,572 yards and has thrown nine touchdowns. However, while he threw just eight interceptions in each of the last two seasons, Stafford has already thrown six picks through just five games.

Davante Adams is a big red zone target, while Puka Nacua is coming off a game where he was targeted 24 times and caught 17 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown. Kyren Williams and Blake Corum are a solid 1-2 punch on the ground as both running backs are averaging almost 5.0 YPG.

Rookie Jeremiyah Love is averaging just 3.7 YPG for the Cardinals. Tight end Trey McBride is the leading receiver on Arizona and has been targeted at least 10 times in every game, while Michael Wilson is now the clear No. 1 receiver after the Marvin Harrison Jr. trade.

Defensive Players Who Could Impact the Game

Aaron Donald has yet to record a sack since returning to the Rams, but he is playing very well and had both a tackle for loss and a fumble recovery last week. Byron Young has stepped up in a big way too, especially with the Myles Garrett injury.

NFL Stats to Know Before Today’s Games

Currently, the NFL odds list the Rams as a massive 12.5-point favorite over the Cardinals. Los Angeles has a huge talent advantage with a lot more star power among its NFL players, while it is becoming obvious that Arizona is one of the worst NFL teams in the league.

Offensive and Defensive NFL Stats

Jacoby Brissett had one of his better games of the season last week against Detroit. That helped his NFL stats so far, and he now has nine touchdown passes to go with five interceptions. Unfortunately, rookie running back Jeremiyah Love had his worst game of the season with 12 carries for only 22 yards and suffered an ankle injury.

Recent Team and Player Trends

Arizona started its season with a then-surprising win over the 0-5 Los Angeles Chargers. The Cardinals have been blown out in three of their last four games though, losing by 24 points to Seattle and Detroit and falling by 12 points to the New York Giants. 

NFL Lines and Betting Movement

We have seen a bit of movement in the NFL odds for this game. The Rams opened at -10.5 against the Cardinals, and the line moved to -13 earlier in the week. It’s likely that the odds for this football game close at either 12 or 13 barring any surprising injuries to the star players on the Rams.

Opening Lines vs. Current NFL Lines

There has been some significant movement in other NFL lines this week. Baltimore opened as a 3.5-point road favorite against Cleveland, and that line has moved two points. Additionally, the betting favorite has changed multiple times in the game between the New Orleans Saints and the New York Giants

What Can Move NFL Odds Before Kickoff?

Injuries are the main impetus behind line moves prior to kickoff, but weather can also be a factor.

NFL Predictions for Today’s Games

It’s hard not to like the Rams in this game. They are the biggest favorite of the week per the NFL odds, and the Cardinals are in a tailspin. I also like the Atlanta Falcons in their game against the Chicago Bears as well as the Over in that game. 

Predictions for Today’s Top NFL Games

In the Sunday night football game, I believe the Dallas Cowboys will go into Green Bay and pick up a win over the Packers despite being an underdog by the NFL odds. Dallas has had extra time to prepare after playing on Thursday Night Football in Week 5, and the Cowboys' maligned defense will bounce back against a bad Packers offensive line.

Potential Upsets to Watch

Buffalo is one of the top teams in the league per the NFL stats, but the Bills are now staying on the West Coast and will have a short week before playing the Las Vegas Raiders. Although the Raiders were blown out by New England last week, Las Vegas won its first three games and nearly knocked off Kansas City at home in Week 4. 

NFL Betting Angles for Today

Unders might be a good bet given the high totals in the NFL odds, but teasers will once again be a popular option.

Final NFL Games Today Outlook

The Los Angeles Rams are one of the best NFL teams to bet this week even though they are the biggest favorite by the NFL lines. I also like Dallas in the NFL tonight, as the Cowboys will have an extra three days of rest compared to their opponent. 

Download the Betcris Arizona app to explore the latest odds, live betting options, player props, and more from your mobile device. Get the app today and stay connected to the action anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD OUR APP TODAY

Keep more winnings, scan or click to get the Betcris Arizona app now!