Rams vs. Lions Odds
| Rams Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+5.5 -110 | 54 -110o / -110u | +200 |
| Lions Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-5.5 -110 | 54 -110o / -110u | -250 |
- Rams vs. Lions Closing Point Spread: Lions -5.5 | Rams +5.5
- Rams vs. Lions Over/Under: 54 total points
- Rams vs. Lions Moneyline: Lions -250 | Rams +200
If you're looking for the closing Rams vs. Lions odds on Sunday Night Football, you're in the right place!
By the time Sunday night's Week 1 game kicked off, the Detroit Lions were 5.5-point favorites against the Los Angeles Rams. That number was as low as Lions -4 earlier in the day, but the Lions vs. Rams point spread got bet all the way up to Lions -5.5 just before kick.
The Lions closed as -250 favorites on the moneyline to win the game outright, with the Rams +200 underdogs to pull off the upset victory.
The Lions vs. Rams over/under settled in at 54 total points scored just before kickoff. That number moved up from 53.5 all the way to 54.5 or 55 at some books in the hours ahead of Sunday Night Football before being bet back down just slightly to 54.
Here's how we previewed Sunday Night Fooball Week 1 and Rams vs. Lions.
Rams vs. Lions Preview
The Los Angeles Rams begin the 2024 NFL regular season against the Detroit Lions, with kickoff set for 8:20 p.m. ET at Ford Field in Detroit. The first Sunday Night Football game of this new season is live on NBC and is available for streaming on Peacock, YouTube TV, and other streaming platforms
This is a rematch from the NFC Wild Card Round that will see Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff face their former teams again. The Rams will be out for playoff revenge after falling short in the NFC Wild Card Round, a 24-23 defeat that saw just nine points scored in the second half. The difference ended up being L.A.'s inability to convert any of its three red-zone trips into touchdowns, while the Lions scored touchdowns on all three of theirs.
It's time for my Rams vs. Lions predictions and my NFL predictions and picks for Week 1 Sunday Night Football. But first, let's take a look at the updated odds.
Lions vs. Rams Predictions, SNF Picks
SPREAD
If I'm going to bet the spread, it will be live. If the spread gets to Lions -3 early, I'll be interested. If you really want to bet the Lions vs. Rams spread, our staff has a spread pick in our Rams vs. Lions Picks, Predictions, Props, Best Bets for Sunday Night Football.
MONEYLINE
I have no bet on the moneyline for this game.
OVER/UNDER
Similar to the spread, I'm looking for a live bet here. If the total goes down to 48 early in the game, I'll be looking to bet the over.
PLAYER PROP
If I'm going to bet this game, it will be here. Sam LaPorta has a great matchup, and I'd recommend targeting his player props
Lions vs. Rams Pick: Sam LaPorta Receptions & Receiving Yard Overs
Sunday Night Football Betting Trends
- 42% of bets and 79% of the money are on the Lions to cover the spread.
- 80% of bets and 76% of the money are on the over.
- 98% of bets and 85% of the money on the moneyline are on Detroit.
How to Watch Sunday Night Football
| Lions vs. Rams | Sunday Night Football Week 1 |
| Start Time: | 8:20 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | NBC/Peacock & YouTube TV |
| Location: | Ford Field in Detroit |
Week 1 of Sunday Night Football is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET live from Ford Field on Sunday. Lions vs. Rams is live on NBC and will be streamed on Peacock and streaming platforms, such as YouTube TV.
Sunday Night Football Week 1
The Lions have been covering machines over the past three seasons with an overall against-the-spread (ATS) record of 35-16 (68.6%). That's the best three-year stretch since the Tom Brady-led Patriots in 2016-18.
For reference, the Lions closed as 3.5-point favorites with a total of 53.5 in last year's playoff game. The market was sitting around Detroit -3.5 with a total of 51 for a while, but the Lions and the over have since taken money — and I agree with each move. I think the Lions should now be heavier home favorites since they improved their roster on paper, while the Rams have taken a step back.
Detroit Lions Preview
The Lions offense is mostly intact outside of swapping guard Jonah Jackson (now with the Rams) for Kevin Zeitler. The Lions boast one of the league's best offensive lines, a plethora of skill-position talent, in addition to one of the better offensive coordinators in the game.
In his career, Jared Goff has gone 35-17 (67.3%) ATD indoors (25-9 past three seasons) compared to just 36-35-2 ATS when not.
Detroit's biggest weakness last season was its pass defense, which it addressed by bringing in Carlton Davis and Amik Robertson, while also selecting two corners in the first two rounds of the NFL draft. Meanwhile, the run defense was already rock solid and should only get better with the addition of D.J. Reader (questionable), one of the better interior run stuffers in the NFL.
I'm still not fully sold on defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn from a schematic perspective, but this pass defense doesn't have to be elite. If there's even just a little bit of improvement, the Lions are a serious Super Bowl contender. Plus, in fairness to Glenn, he was pretty handcuffed with what he could do with the talent he had at his disposal in the secondary in recent seasons.
Los Angeles Rams Preview
For the Rams, let's start on defense, where I think they could suffer one of the biggest year-over-year declines in the NFL.
It all begins with Aaron Donald. The future Hall of Famer was still one of the best linemen against both the run and pass. He drew so much attention with constant double and sometimes triple teams that created opportunities for others on the Rams defense. The Rams also traded their best linebacker Ernest Jones to the Titans, leaving questions in the second level.
The Rams hit on both Kobie Turner and Byron Young in the 2023 draft, but both benefited from playing with Donald. Maybe L.A. struck gold once again with Jared Verse, Braden Fiske and Omar Speights in this year's draft, but there should at least be some significant early growing pains.
Additionally, the Rams lost defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, who I valued highly. Also, cornerbacks Darious Williams and Derion Kendrick will start the season on IR, while new starting CB Cobie Durant is also dealing with an injury but should suit up. It also remains to be seen how productive new addition Tre'Davious White will be after coming back from injury.
Offensively, the Rams still have Matthew Stafford and one of the league's best wide receiver duos under the guidance of one of the best offensive minds in the league in Sean McVay. However, the offensive line is in a current state of flux with starting left tackle Alaric Jackson serving a suspension and right tackle Rob Havenstein (questionable) dealing with an injury. They also had Jackson and Steve Avila swap positions in the interior. The lack of continuity could be a major issue.
How to Make NFL Picks on My Rams vs. Lions Predictions
I'm not a huge fan of betting overs (especially this high) in Week 1, but that's the only way I could look here when it comes to the spread, moneyline or over/under. However, with both quarterbacks not getting any work in preseason, there might be some rust. If the game starts slowly, I'll look for a nice live over.
I'll be doing the same for the Lions spread if they fall behind early. The Dan Campbell fourth-down variance could also have an impact on this game. For example, if he goes for it early and fails to convert, that might present an opening for the Lions and/or the live over.
I just can't see how this Rams defense can hold up against this Detroit offense if it gets going. It's also worth mentioning the Rams have one of the worst special teams units in the NFL.
So, for now, my focus will be on Sam LaPorta. The Rams did not defend tight ends well last season, and LaPorta quickly became an important part of the Lions offense as a rookie.
Rams vs. Lions Pick: Sam LaPorta Receptions & Receiving Yard Overs
Rams vs. Lions Spread Bet: I am not betting this, but we have a spread pick in our staff Sunday Night Football best bets on Rams +4.5.
Lions vs. Rams Injury Report
LIONS INJURIES
- DE DJ Reader is questionable with quad.
- S Ifeatu Melifonwu is doubtful with ankle.
- S Loren Strickland is out with thumb.
RAMS INJURIES
- OL Rob Havenstein is questionable with ankle.
- TE Tyler Higbee is out with knee.
