Cardinals vs. Rams Odds
| Cardinals Odds | +3.5 |
| Rams Odds | -3.5 |
| Over/Under | 49.5 |
| Time | 8:15 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN |
| Odds via Caesars Sportsbook. Get up-to-the-minute NFL odds here. | |
Cooper Kupp, James Conner and Odell Beckham Jr. lead the most popular player prop bets for Monday's Wild Card Round matchup between the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams.
It'll be the third contest this season between the divisional rivals. The two teams split the season series on the road.
There aren't more teams in the NFL with more upside than the Rams. They have stars at half their positions and the lack of draft capital to show for it.
But the Rams have myriad problems, especially offensively. Matthew Stafford has had a good year, sure, but he leads the league in interceptions and pick-sixes and always seems to put this team into precarious positions.
If the Rams flame out of the postseason, it'll likely be on account of Stafford's foibles, not their fifth-ranked defense.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals haven't inspired much more confidence, regressing mightily after starting the year 8-1.
The Cardinals have lost four of five and Kyler Murray looked hapless in losses to the Rams, Lions, Colts and Seahawks — three of which are non-playoff teams.
To add insult to injury, All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins will miss time until at least the NFC championship.
Arizona is still regarded as the No. 10 team in the NFL, but that’s after having been in the top five for weeks.
The defense still looks strong, that’s for sure. But if Murray plays like he has over the last few weeks, expect this team to get bounced soon.
On account of these factors, the market opened with the Cardinals as +4.5 underdogs.
That line has since moved to Cardinals +3.5 heading into tonight's game.
Bettors are also hammering these three player props for the first-ever NFL game played on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Cardinals vs. Rams Most Popular NFL Player Props
- Cooper Kupp to score a touchdown at any time (-171)
- James Conner to score a touchdown at any time (+135)
- Odell Beckham Jr. to score a touchdown at any time (+130)
Odds and data according to PointsBet.
Of course, the best skill-position player in the NFL is being targeted for Monday's most popular prop.
Kupp has scored a touchdown in 11 of 17 regular season games, including five of his last six. That implies the odds for this prop should be somewhere closer to -185 or -190.
While that provides some value at the current market price of -171, even that figure is up from its open at -150, and it's marginal value at that, especially compared to Conner's player prop.
Conner has scored a touchdown in 11 of 15 games, including eight of his last nine contests. He's had a historically good touchdown scoring year.
That TD rate implies that this line should be somewhere closer to -275. So, why the ridiculous value?
Conner injured his ribs last week, a game in which he was already returning from ankle and heel ailments. He's questionable for Monday's contest and will be a true game-time call.
If he plays, this value is too much to give up. In fact, the line will plummet to even money or lower.
Monitor Conner's status — turn on those Twitter notifications — and if a reporter says he's ready to go, hammer that line at +135 immediately.
As far as Beckham's player prop goes, even though he's scored in five of his last seven contests, I tend to stray away from TD props on non-elite wide receivers and tight ends.
Generally, they're too variable for my liking and often have negative expected value.
Pick: If he plays, Conner to score a TD (+135).
