The Los Angeles Rams are out to prove that last year’s accomplishment of winning the NFC West was no fluke, and they will do it with a band of holdovers and some key new additions, particularly on offense. The Oakland Raiders, on the other hand, are still smarting from the loss of Khalil Mack via a trade whether they admit it or not.
The Rams are the favorites to win the NFC West with odds of -200 in the NFL Futures odds, while the Raiders are +375 to rule the AFC West.
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Betting Preview for the Los Angeles Rams vs Oakland Raiders NFL Season Week 1 Game on September 10, 2018
Where: Oakland Coliseum, Oakland
When: Monday, September 10, 2018, 10:15 PM ET
Line: Los Angeles Rams (+4.5) vs Oakland Raiders (-4.5) – view all 2018 NFL lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Los Angeles Rams (+4.5)
First and foremost, let us just say that the Rams’ defense is going to make opposing teams feel like they’re in hell. The Rams finished last season with 20.9 points allowed per game average to go with a mediocre 338.7 total yards surrendered per contest. To solidify their stop unit, the Rams went made a grocery list in the offseason and got the folks they wanted, as they have added three All-Pro defensive players by trading for cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib and signing defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. If Los Angeles want to cripple Oakland’s passing game, then it has the tools to fairly expect that the team will do just that in Week 1.
And oh, by the way, the Rams still have Aaron Donald, whose pairing with Suh is perhaps the closest thing to having a fortress up front for Los Angeles.
On offense, the Rams will rely on third-year quarterback Jared Goff, who elevated his game in 2017, when he passed for 3,804 yards and 28 touchdowns with only seven interceptions. Todd Gurley remains as the team’s bell cow, who should keep the Rams’ offense diversified. Gurley had 1,307 rushing yards and 13 rushing scores for the Los Angeles team that finished seventh last year with 121.6 rushing yards per game.
The Rams are 5-2 in their last seven road games.
Betting on the Oakland Raiders (-4.5)
Khalil Mack did not return for the Raiders. Instead, Oakland opted to trade him to the Chicago Bears than give in to what the pass rushing monster want, which was a bigger contract. Mack’s absence has left a huge hole on Oakland’s defense which will have to find an inferior player to replace the defensive end and puts more pressure on quarterback Derek Carr and on the Raiders’ offense.
Last season, Carr regressed, as he recorded just 3,496 yards and 22 touchdowns with 13 interceptions, and for him to get those numbers up again, he needs his complementary pieces to step up. Take for example wide receiver Amari Cooper and running back Marshawn Lynch. Like Carr, Cooper had a down year in 2017 in which he posted only 680 receiving yards – almost 50 percent short of what he had a year prior. As for Lynch, he’s fitter than when he came out of retirement last year, so he’s expected to produce better numbers this season. Also, the Raiders have a new guy in Jordy Nelson, who is the replacement of Michael Crabtree as the team’s No. 2 WR.
The Raiders are 2-1-1 ATS in their last four home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Los Angeles wins, 33-23.
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