Todd Gurley NFL Football Los Angeles Rams vs Carolina Panthers Betting Odds, Preview & Pick

Betting Preview: Los Angeles Rams vs Carolina Panthers

The last time we saw the Rams, their high-flying attack was grounded in a humbling 13-3 loss to New England in Super Bowl 53. Los Angeles looks to rebound from that defeat beginning with a Week 1 visit to the Carolina Panthers, who are hungry to bounce back themselves from a disappointing 2018.

Los Angeles Rams vs Carolina Panthers (Matchup Report)

Date/Time: September 8, 1 p.m. ET

TV Coverage: FOX

Sportsbook Odds: Rams -2.5 | O/U 51 (Line History)

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

After Sportsbook the Rams as 2.5-point favorites in April, oddsmakers have moved this line onto the key number of 3 in response to some early action on LA. Meanwhile, the total has seen very little movement, dropping just half a point to 50.5.

Los Angeles News & Notes

Can the Rams pick up where they left off last year or will there be a hangover effect from their Super Bowl loss? We didn’t get many hints at an answer during the preseason, as coach Sean McVay kept most of his key starters off the field entirely during exhibition action. Jared Goff, Todd Gurley and Aaron Donald were among the big-name Rams not to see even a single snap in August.

McVay employed the same strategy last year and the Rams still easily won their season opener 33-13 in Oakland. However, it took LA some time to get rolling in that one (the Rams trailed 13-10 at half). The Rams also face some damning history as a team coming off a Super Bowl loss the previous year: Super Bowl losers are 3-16 ATS in their last 19 season openers, and an even more horrific 1-12 ATS on the road since 2000.

Carolina News & Notes

Carolina head coach Ron Rivera was also conservative with how he employed his top talent in preseason play, limiting Cam Newton, Christian McCaffrey and Greg Olsen to just three offensive series in exhibition action. That still wasn’t enough to prevent Newton from going down to injury, although at the time of writing, the mid-foot sprain that forced him to leave a Week 3 game against New England wasn’t expected to sideline him for the season opener vs the Rams.

Without the big guns on the field, the Panthers’ attack averaged just 13.3 points per game in its first three exhibition games. Rivera downplayed any concern about the offensive struggles, but Olsen admitted to reporters it’s not always easy to just “turn a switch” and start playing well when the games count the most. Pro Bowl kicker Graham Gano was also sidelined throughout August with a leg injury, although rookie Joey Slye went 6-for-6 in his place during the first three preseason contests.

Betting Pick

The Panthers got off to a 6-2 start last season before Newton began battling shoulder soreness, then proceeded to finish 7-9 overall. I think that makes Carolina an underrated bunch going into 2019, even if Newton’s long-term health remains a big question mark. Look for the Panthers to give the Rams all they can handle in what’s proven to be a tough spot for teams coming off a Super Bowl loss. I’m grabbing Carolina +3 in this one. 

Shark Bites
  • The Rams are 5-12 ATS in their last 17 games in Week 1.
  • The total has gone UNDER in 6 of the Panthers’ last 7 games in Week 1.
  • The total has gone UNDER in 5 of the last 6 meetings between these teams (avg. combined score: 30.0).
The Rams are 5-12 ATS in their last 17 games in Week 1.away The total has gone UNDER in 6 of the Panthers’ last 7 games in Week 1.home The total has gone UNDER in 5 of the last 6 meetings between these teams.
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