Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Rams Predictions, Odds, Picks

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

7 minute read

Oct. 3, 2021

Jonathan Willis
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

The Arizona Cardinals (3-0) and Los Angeles Rams (3-0) meet in a battle of NFC West unbeatens at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles in Week 4, and someone will leave the field with its unblemished record intact, while the losers will leave with a one-game deficit in the standings. This game could have some repercussions down the line.

Score Prediction: Rams 34, Cardinals 30

Best Bet: Over 54.5

Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Rams Predictions

The Cardinals have had an explosive offense to date, going for 31 or more points in each of their three games. While the offense gets a lot of the headlines and hype, the defense was strong in a pair of road victories against the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars, allowing just 16.0 PPG in those two wins and covers. The UNDER is also 2-0 in two games on the road for Arizona.

The Cardinals did have some trouble defensively against another NFC contender, the Minnesota Vikings, but they edged out the Vikes at State Farm Stadium by a 34-33 count in Week 2 in their only OVER result to date.

The Rams have really been happy with QB Matthew Stafford, acquired this past offseason for QB Jared Goff. The Los Angeles offense has been explosive, too, going for 27 or more points in all three outings, and 34 points in each win at home so far. That includes a 34-24 showdown against the defending champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3, the third OVER result for the Rams in as many games.

This NFC West showdown should be a one-score game, coming down to the fourth quarter and whomever can make the fewest mistakes. We also should see a ton of points, and really that’s the best bet here.

Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Rams Betting Odds

More Odds | Futures Odds

Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Rams Betting Resources

• Matchup: NFC West
• Date: Sunday, October 3, 2021
• Venue: SoFi Stadium
• Location: Inglewood, California
• TV-Time: FOX - 4:05 p.m. ET

• Weather Report
• Injury Report
• Super Bowl 56 Betting

Arizona Cardinals Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU:
• ATS:
• O/U:
• ATS - Home:
• ATS - Away:

So the Cardinals have averaged 432.3 total yards per game to rank second in the NFL, 322.3 passing yards per game to check in third while posting 110.0 rushing yards per outing for a respectable 10th - place ranking. Arizona is also the highest-scoring team in the NFL with 34.3 points per game, so the Rams will have their work cut out on defense.

Defensively, Arizona is allowing 342.7 total yards per game to rank 11th , while allowing just 202.0 passing yards per game, good for eighth. If they have an Achilles’ heel, it’s stopping the run, as the opposition has tossed up 140.7 yards per game, with just three teams worse against the rush. However, it hasn’t really hurt them too much, as they’re yielding just 21.7 points per game to rank 11th in the NFL.

The Cardinals are 9-3-2 ATS in the past 14 games as a road underdog, and 12-5-2 ATS in the past 19 games overall away from home. However, they’re just 1-3-1 ATS in the past five on the road against teams with a winning home record, for which the Rams certainly qualify. They’re also 0-4 ATS in the past four inside the AFC West, while going 0-5 ATS in the past five overall against winning teams.

Los Angeles Rams Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU:
• ATS:
• O/U:
• ATS - Home:
• ATS - Away:

The high-flying Rams have rolled up 31.7 PPG, ranking third in the NFL, not too far off the pace behind their counterparts. Los Angeles has also managed 304.3 passing yards per game to rank sixth. As mentioned, Stafford has fit right in, going for 942 passing yards, nine touchdowns and just one interception across his first three starts in L.A.

The Rams haven’t been great running the ball, going for just 83.7 yards per game on the ground, but Darrell Henderson Jr. has been a little banged up with a ribs injury, and Sony Michel is still rather new and getting acclimated after getting picked up in August, so it’s all pass all the time early on.

Everyone knows the defense is strong for the Rams, although they have allowed plenty of yards and points to date. They’re yielding 374.0 total yards per game to rank 20th , while coughing up 281.3 passing yards per game. L.A. has shut down the run, allowing just 92.7 yards per game to check in 11th, and they’re ninth in the NFL with 20.7 PPG. As such, look for this one to be a huge passing showdown.

The Los Angeles Rams have won eight straight games when facing the Arizona Cardinals. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Arizona Cardinals

• Record:
• Division Standing:
• Points Scored:
• Points Allowed:
• PS/G:
• PA/G:

Inside the Stats - Los Angeles Rams

• Record:
• Division Standing:
• Points Scored:
• Points Allowed:
• PS/G:
• PA/G:

Key Players to Watch

• ARI: TBD
• ARI: TBD
• LAR: TBD
• LAR: TBD

Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Rams Betting Conclusion

For the second consecutive weekend, the Rams have the marquee game in the late-afternoon window. They brought it emotionally last week against Tom Brady and the Buccaneers, serving notice to the rest of the NFL that Stafford and the Rams are legitimate Super Bowl contenders. They’re looking to follow in the footsteps of the Bucs, who became the first team to win the Super Bowl in its home stadium.

First things first for the Rams, however. They must take care of business in their own division, and the Cardinals have proven to be the biggest threat to date. Of course, this is a division which also has the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks, so it’s going to be a bloodbath all season long. This is just the first divisional game for each side.

I expect that we’re going to take a ton of passing, a lot of points and the team to win will be the one managing the clock, showing the most discipline in terms of penalties, while taking care of the ball best. That sounds rather simplistic, but that’s what it comes down to when teams are nearly identical. I like the Rams because they’re at home. That’s basically the biggest difference. Arizona will pay them back Dec. 13 in the desert in a Monday night affair.

Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Rams Betting Trends

• Los Angeles has won eight straight games when facing Arizona.
• Arizona has gone UNDER the point total in eight straight road games.
• Los Angeles has covered the spread in five of its last six games when facing the NFC as the favorite.

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