Veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford finally got his first postseason win last Monday when the Los Angeles Rams dominated the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium. Things get a little more challenging this week for Stafford and the Rams as they take their potent offense on the road to face the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The current football betting odds have the Rams at Buccaneers as a close one, with the Bucs a three-point favorite. Can the Rams prevail and move on to the NFC Championship game? Let’s break down the odds for what is sure to be an exciting matchup.
Rams at Buccaneers (-3)
- Date: Sunday, Jan. 23rd, 2022
- Time: 3:00 PM EST
- Venue: Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL
Buccaneers Moneyline (-150)
This week, there’s a good chance RB Leonard Fournette, or “playoff Lenny” will be back for the Bucs, adding a massive boost to Tampa Bay’s offense. The Rams looked terrific on Monday night, but they were playing a Cardinals team that has struggled for two months, losing four of their last five games.
This season, the Bucs have been great at home (8-1) and have the league’s No. 1 passing game (304 yards per game). The Rams are a great road team, going 7-2 in the regular season.
What sets the Bucs apart is their first-half scoring ability. They average 6.7 points in the first quarter, the third-best in the league, and 15.5 points in the first half, which is second best. Taking early leads puts their opponents on their heels and can take away the run. If the Rams fall behind early, it could force them into throwing the ball to play catchup.
When these two teams met early in the season, the Rams held the first-half scoring advantage, 14-7, and won 34-24. Brady and the Bucs know they need to score early to win, and I expect them to do it this week against the 21st-ranked Rams pass defense.
Total Points (48.5) Over
These two teams met back in Week 3, and both quarterbacks put on a show. Tom Brady threw for over 400 yards in the game, while Matthew Stafford had over 300 yards and four touchdowns in a 34-24 Rams victory.
Both offenses are too good not to score a pile of points, and they proved that last week with both putting up over 30. The Rams have averaged 27.4 for the year, while the Bucs are even better at 30.1.
I believe this will be another high-scoring game for both teams.
Rams at Buccaneers: Who Do You Have?
This Rams at Buccaneers matchup is one of the most highly anticipated matchups of the weekend in what should be an exciting slate of games. With both teams on a roll, it seems like this one may come down to the wire in a high-scoring affair.
Head to BetMGM to make your online sports betting picks. Create an account today and receive a risk-free initial bet worth up to $1,000.
