Rams vs Cardinals Betting Odds, Preview & Pick

The Arizona Cardinals (10-2 SU, 9-3 ATS) hope to move three games ahead of the Los Angeles Rams (8-4, 5-7) and sweep the regular-season series Monday when the two NFC West rivals square off in Glendale. The Cardinals handed the Rams their first loss of the season 37-20 as 4-point road underdogs back in Week 4 after losing both meetings a year ago with Jared Goff as the opposing quarterback.

Los Angeles Rams vs Arizona Cardinals

Date/Time: December 13, 8:15 p.m. ET
Stadium: State Farm Stadium
TV Coverage: ESPN
Sportsbook Odds: Cardinals -2.5 | O/U 52.5 (Line History)
Rams vs Cardinals Matchup Report

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

Los Angeles got a much-needed victory last Sunday, routing the Jacksonville Jaguars 37-7 as a 14-point home favorite to end the team’s three-game skid. The Rams will now need to prove they can beat a quality opponent on the road after losing their last two games away from home to the San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers by a combined 29 points.

You can argue that Arizona’s 33-22 win over the Chicago Bears as an 8-point road favorite was more impressive, though, especially in poor weather conditions. The Cardinals improved to 7-0 on the road and did not take long to see quarterback Kyler Murray get comfortable with wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins again after both players missed the previous three games.

The Cardinals are up to -3 in early betting action at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark, with the total down a point to 51.5 in what could be a lower-scoring sequel. The key will be how Murray stands up to the Los Angeles pass rush.

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Los Angeles News & Notes

It is hard to truly judge how the Rams performed last week because they played such an inferior opponent in the Jaguars, who could muster only 197 yards of total offense. They sacked Jacksonville’s rookie quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, twice for nine yards but maybe more importantly held the running game to 61 yards on 25 carries.

Offensively, Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford threw a one-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to cap the scoring and also connected with him on a 27-yard reception, as the duo continued to work on their chemistry.

The additions of Beckham and pass-rushing linebacker Von Miller were made to help the Rams win this rematch on the road.

Arizona News & Notes

Murray and Hopkins did not need to do much at Chicago, yet they did just enough to make Arizona backers believe they were healthy enough to make a difference. This week could be a different story, so it will be imperative for them to get enough rest in the days leading up to kickoff.

Hopkins and fellow wide receiver A.J. Green each had 67 yards in the first meeting at Los Angeles while running back Chase Edmonds carried the ball 12 times for 120 yards.

Edmonds has been residing on injured reserve with a high-ankle sprain but could return for this game according to head coach Kliff Kingsbury, who could use him to pair with James Conner again. Conner had 18 carries for 50 yards with two touchdowns in the first meeting, and he has toted the rock 41 times in the last two games.

How Los Angeles Will Cover

Miller has yet to register a sack for the Rams, who acquired him from the Denver Broncos for moments like this. This could be the perfect opportunity for him to shine in prime time, proving that he still has gas left in the tank. If he and the defense show up, they will cover.

How Arizona Will Cover

The running game will need to be a force like it was in the first meeting because Murray will not be able to win this matchup on his own. The status of Edmonds will be critical, especially since he played so well in that first game. The Rams are giving up a little more than 100 yards per game on the ground, so that is the way to attack them and win again.