Los Angeles Rams vs. Baltimore Ravens Predictions, Odds, Picks

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

8 minute read

Jan. 2, 2022

Dan Dobish
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

The Los Angeles Rams (11-4) hit the road to meet the Baltimore Ravens (8-7) for a Week 17 NFC vs. AFC matchup on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on FOX.

Score Prediction

Rams 27, Ravens 24

Best Bets

Ravens +4.5 (-110) at BetMGM

Over 46.5 (-110) at BetMGM

Los Angeles Rams vs. Baltimore Ravens Predictions

The Rams have clinched at least a playoff spot in the NFC, but they have their eyes on a much larger prize. The Rams can grab the NFC West Division title with a win and a loss by the Arizona Cardinals or a tie, or the Rams can tie and clinch with a Cardinals loss.

For the Ravens, they're simply trying to stay in the playoff picture and a loss would be devastating to those hopes. The good news is that QB Lamar Jackson (ankle) was able to practice Wednesday on a limited basis, although he missed practice Thursday, and there was video footage on Twitter showing him with a noticeable limp. The good news is that if Jackson cannot go, at least QB Tyler Huntley came off the reserve/COVID list this week. He'll likely be the starter if Jackson cannot play, and the offense has certainly not skipped a beat when Jackson is under center.

Los Angeles has picked up four consecutive victories with 30 or more points scored in three of the four outings. On the flip side, Baltimore has dropped four in a row, scoring 22 or fewer points in three of the games, so these are two teams going in opposite directions.

Los Angeles Rams vs. Baltimore Ravens Betting Odds

More Odds | Futures Odds

Los Angeles Rams vs. Baltimore Ravens Betting Resources

• Matchup: NFC West vs. AFC North
• Date: Sunday, January 2, 2022
• Venue: M&T Bank Stadium
• Location: Baltimore, Maryland
• TV-Time: FOX - 1:00 p.m. ET

• Weather Report
• Injury Report
• Super Bowl 56 Betting

Los Angeles Rams Betting Analysis

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

• SU: 11-4
• ATS: 8-7
• O/U: 8-6-1
• ATS - Away: 4-4

The Rams head into this one 4-0 SU/ATS across the past four outings. The team had an 0-3 SU/ATS run, and the reports of their death was greatly exaggerated. L.A. has finally started to jell, as mercurial star WR Odell Beckham Jr. appears to be happy, and when he is happy he is productive. QB Matthew Stafford is back on track, the defense is starting to dominate again and the COVID-19 outbreak among the team appears to be in the rear-view mirror. To make matters even better, unless you're the rest of the league, the Rams are welcoming back RB Cam Akers from an Achilles' injury, joining RB Sony Michel, who has re-emerged as a useful offensive weapon.

The Rams have also covered four of the past five games played in the month of January, while going 4-1 ATS in the past five following a cover. For totals, the OVER is 6-1 in the past seven against teams with a winning overall record, while going 4-1-1 in the past six games on the road. The OVER is also 5-0 in the past five on the road against teams with a winning home mark. The OVER is 3-1-1 in the past five when favored on the road, although the UNDER is 24-9-1 in the past 34 overall as a favorite. But, a lot of that number happened before Stafford arrived, certainly before OBJ arrived, and was mostly from past years with different personnel.

Baltimore Ravens Betting Analysis

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

• SU: 8-7
• ATS: 7-8
• O/U: 8-7
• ATS - Home: 4-3

The Ravens are looking to pull out of their current nosedive, and facing the red-hot Rams isn't exactly the elixir to cure their ills. Baltimore's Jackson could still get well and play by Sunday, but the video that surfaced online showed him limping badly at practice, and if he does play, he is unlikely to be himself, meaning it doesn't look like he'd be much of a threat to run, and he is simply an average pocket passer. The team might be better off going with Huntley, who is back from the COVID list, and is essentially Lamar Lite. With Huntley, the team doesn't have to simplify the playbook one iota.

Baltimore seems to enjoy being a home underdog, going 4-0 ATS in the past four games in the situation, while hitting eight of the past 11 against the number versus winning teams. Baltimore is also 15-5-1 ATS in the past 21 games overall as an underdog, while cashing in seven of the past 10 games in Charm City. However, Baltimore is also 2-6 ATS in the past eight at home against teams with a winning road mark, for which the Rams certainly qualify.

As far as the totals are concerned, Baltimore has cashed the OVER in nine of the past 12 games at home, while going 4-0 in the past four games as a home underdog. The OVER is also 4-1 in the past five games as an underdog. The OVER-UNDER is 2-2 in four games vs. NFC this season, with the OVER hitting in Week 15 in the last such game, a 31-30 loss to the visiting Green Bay Packers.

The UNDER is 24-9-1 in the past 23 games as a favorite for the Rams. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Los Angeles Rams

• Record: 11-4
• Division Standing: 3-2
• Points Scored: 416
• Points Allowed: 326
• PS/G: 27.7
• PA/G: 21.7

Inside the Stats - Baltimore Ravens

• Record: 8-7
• Division Standing: 1-4
• Points Scored: 355
• Points Allowed: 356
• PS/G: 23.7
• PA/G: 23.7

Key Players to Watch

• LAR: Cooper Kupp - WR (132 catches, 1,734 yards, 14 TD)
• LAR: Matthew Stafford - QB (357/534, 4,339 yards, 36 TD, 13 INT)
• BAL: Mark Andrews - TE (93 catches, 1,187 yards, 9 TD)
• BAL: Marquise Brown - WR (85 catches, 953 yards, 6 TD)

Los Angeles Rams vs. Baltimore Ravens Betting Conclusion

These are two teams headed in the opposite direction, so common sense says to slam the Rams laying the points. However, this season has been anything but common in the NFL, although we have seen the cream finally start to rise to the top after a handful of topsy-turvy weeks in November into December.

It's hard to bet the Ravens, but you have to imagine they're going to play with some desperation, and they do have the luxury of playing at home, whereas the Rams are travelling cross-country. Of course the last time L.A. traversed the country for a game, they bludgeoned the New York Giants 38-11 in Week 6, their only game in the Eastern Time Zone this season. In the second-longest trip, they topped the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2 by a 27-24 score, so the air miles don't seem to bug them.

I think the Rams are going to get it done, and all but mathematically eliminate a Ravens team from the playoffs, after they were once the top seed in the AFC, and looked to be running away with the AFC North. L.A. is going to get their best shot, and the first three losses in this four-game skid came by a total of just four points, including a pair of failed two-point conversion attempts in the final moments, going for the win instead of overtime. Look for another close loss for Balto.

Los Angeles Rams vs. Baltimore Ravens Betting Trends

• The Rams are 4-0 ATS in their past four games overall.
• The Ravens are 7-3 ATS in the past 10 home games.
• The Ravens are 8-3 ATS in the past 11 games vs. winning teams.
• The Ravens are 4-0 ATS in the past four as a home underdog.
• The Ravens are 15-5-1 ATS in the past 21 games as an underdog.
• The OVER is 4-1-1 in the past six road games for the Rams.
• The OVER is 6-1 in the past seven games vs. winning teams for the Rams.
• The UNDER is 24-9-1 in the past 34 as a favorite for the Rams.
• The OVER is 9-3 in the past 12 home games for the Ravens.
• the OVER is 4-1 in the past five games as a 'dog for the Ravens.

Where to place a bet this NFL Season?

• Use our exclusive BetMGM Bonus Code VIBONUS1500 to unlock BetMGM’s welcome offer for new sportsbook users!
• Compare the latest NFL Odds from the best sportsbooks before placing a bet on this week's games.
• Check out the North Carolina Sportsbooks just before they launch legal online sports betting.

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