Detroit Lions (0-0) vs LA Rams (0-0)
September 8, 2024 at 08:20 PM EDT
The Line: Betting Odds: Detroit Lions -3.5 / LA Rams +3.5 — Over/Under: 51.5
The LA Rams and Detroit Lions meet Sunday in NFL week 1 action at Ford Field. Here’s a LA Rams vs Detroit Lions Prediction. This article will include a LA Rams vs Detroit Lions Pick.
LA Rams Betting Preview
The LA Rams have won double-digit games in 5 of the last 7 seasons and enter the eighth year under coach Sean McVay. The Rams suffered a massive blow with the retirement of Aaron Donald, but the rest of this team has legit playoff run potential. Matthew Stafford is still an above average quarterback at 36 years old, and he’ll have a full season of Cooper Kupp this time. Puka Nacua is coming off a monster rookie season of nearly 1,500 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns. Kyren Williams is coming off a 1,000 yard season, and rookie Blake Corum adds depth at the running back position.
Despite no Allen, the additions of Tre’Davious White and Darious Williams give the Rams an impressive cornerback duo, while Jared Verse is a gifted pass rusher who could come in right away and provide the pass rush void Allen left. On paper the Rams are a playoff team, should compete for a division title and will be a threat to come out of the NFC.
Detroit Lions Betting Preview
The Detroit Lions won 12 games last season and enter the fourth year under coach Dan Campbell. The Lions haven’t made the playoffs in back to back seasons since 1994-95. Jared Goff has been great these last two seasons, and he has an above average offensive line protecting him, with Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker leading the way. Amon-Ra St. Brown has quickly become a weapon at wide receiver, and Sam LaPorta probably wins rookie of the year if it wasn’t for C.J. Stroud. The Lions have one of the best offenses in the NFL, and it’s the main reason some have Detroit taking that leap to the Super Bowl.
Defensively, the Lions had issues last season, but adding Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw in the draft should improve the secondary. There are concerns at linebacker, but the defensive line includes Aidan Hutchinson, who has 21 sacks in two seasons, and Marcus Davenport, who sowed flashes for the Saints a few years ago. If the Lions defense can be more consistent, there’s potential to do something special in the D.
Detroit Lions Player Prop Facts
- Jahmyr Gibbs has scored at least one touchdown in each of the Lions’ last six Sunday games.
- Amon-Ra St. Brown has recorded 89+ rushing and receiving yards in each of his last five appearances against NFC West opponents.
- Jared Goff has recorded 271+ passing yards in each of the Lions’ last five games.
- Amon-Ra St. Brown has recorded 90+ receiving yards in each of the Lions’ last four regular season games.
- David Montgomery has recorded 55+ rushing yards in seven of the Lions’ last eight regular season games as favorites.
- Jared Goff has recorded 24+ completions in four of the Lions’ last five games at Ford Field as moderate favorites (-3.5 to -7.0 points).
- Jared Goff has thrown three or more touchdowns in four of the Lions’ last five home games against NFC West opponents.
- Aidan Hutchinson ranked 1st in the NFL in quarterback hurries (29) last season.
Los Angeles Rams Player Prop Facts
- Kyren Williams has scored two or more touchdowns in each of his last three regular season road appearances against NFC opponents.
- Matthew Stafford has recorded 23+ completions in each of his last five appearances.
- Kyren Williams has recorded 87+ rushing yards in each of his last six Sunday regular season appearances.
- Matthew Stafford has recorded 293+ passing yards in five of his last six appearances against NFC North opponents.
- Kyren Williams has scored at least one touchdown in seven of his last eight regular season appearances against NFC opponents.
- Kyren Williams has recorded 101+ rushing and receiving yards in each of his last six Sunday regular season appearances.
- Matthew Stafford has thrown two or more touchdowns in each of his last four September road appearances against NFC North opponents.
- Tyler Higbee has recorded 29+ receiving yards in seven of his last eight regular season road appearances.
- Tre’Davious White is just two away from 20 career interceptions.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Lions ranked 2nd in the NFL in passing yards per game (258.9) last season.
- The Lions were one of only two teams in the NFL to ranked top 5 in both passing yards and rushing yards per game last season.
- The Rams ranked 31st in the NFL in fumbles recovered (5) last season.
- The Rams ranked 30th in the NFL in forced fumbles (7) last season.
LA Rams vs Detroit Lions Prediction
I’m not a fan of the hook with this line, so I’m just going to grab the over. The over has hit in 7 of the Lions last 10 games. The Rams and Lions have similarities in that the offenses have explosiveness while the defense has question marks. How will the Rams look without Allen on the defensive line? How much did the Lions really improve a defense that ranked 23rd in points and 19th in yards? On this fast track and on Sunday night, we should see some points. Instead of playing with this line, I’m going to take the over.