NFL Betting Lines & Prediction for Wild Card Clash between Falcons & Rams

NFL Betting Lines & Pick for Wild Card Clash Between Falcons & Rams

Written by on January 2, 2018

Jared Goff and the Los Angeles Rams will look to avoid the big upset according to the NFL betting lines when they take on Matt Ryan and an Atlanta Falcons team that is undoubtedly playing their best football of the season at just the right time. The two NFC Super Bowl 52 hopefuls are set to throw down live from Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, January 6, 2018, at 8:15 PM ET,  a matchup that looks like it could turn out to be the most exciting wild-card matchup on this season’s docket. Now, let’s find out which one of these teams is offering the best value against their NFL betting odds.

Atlanta (10-6) at Los Angeles (11-5) NFL Betting Lines & Prediction

  • When: Saturday, January 6, 2018, 8:15 PM ET
  • Where: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA
  • TV: NBC
  • Radio: 92.9 FM (Atlanta) / 710 AM (Los Angeles)
  • Live Stream: NFL Game Pass
  • NFL Betting Lines: Los Angeles Rams -5.5 (Over/Under at 48.5 points)

Weather Forecast

  • Clear: 16°C/60°F
  • Humidity: 90%
  • Precipitation: 4%
  • Cloud Cover: 21%
  • Wind: 2 mph SW
  • Stadium Type: Open

Wild Card NFL Betting Odds & Expert Pick: Titans vs. Chiefs

Series History

  • Total Meetings: 78
  • First Meeting: September 11, 1966 / Los Angeles Rams 19 – Atlanta Falcons 14
  • Last Meeting: December 11, 2016 / Atlanta Falcons 42 – Los Angeles Rams 14
  • All-Time Series: Los Angeles Rams lead 47-29-2
  • Largest Margin of Victory: Los Angeles Rams winning by 36
  • Longest Win Streak: Los Angeles Rams winning 7
  • Current Win Streak: Atlanta Falcons winning 4

Why consider the Atlanta Falcons NFL Betting Lines?

Why bet on the Falcons in this wild card matchup? Well, because the Falcons are playing excellent football at the perfect time of year! The Falcons have won three of their last four games and six of their last eight overall and hit the playoffs coming off a convincing 22-10 win over Carolina in their finale this past weekend to punch their ticket to the postseason. While the Falcons had the highest scoring offense in the league a year ago en route to the Super Bowl, this season, they’re ranked a more modest 15th in scoring this season (22.1 ppg), but they’ve also been outstanding on defense this season as they finished ninth in total defense and eighth in points allowed (19.7 ppg). “We always said, on the defensive side, we don’t ever want to take nothing away from our offense — we’re not battling with them because that’s our offense — but one thing we did say: We want to make this be known as a defensive team, too,” Falcons free safety Ricardo Allen said.

Why consider the L.A. Rams NFL Betting Lines?

Why bet on the Rams in their wild-card opener? Well, because they have been the more consistent team this season and are far more explosive offensively than Atlanta is this season as they finished first in scoring (29.9 ppg). While the Rams lost their finale against San Francisco 34-13 this past weekend, it was a meaningless game for Los Angele. Pro Bowl running back Todd Gurley and company won four of their previous five games and eight of 10 before their Week 17 matchup so they’re undeniably one of the hottest teams around heading into the playoffs. “The mentality that we have now has been pretty much a complete 180 from the year before,” said veteran guard Roger Saffold, in his eighth year with the organization. “I expected success, but going from worst to first, that’s amazing to me.” The Rams are back in the playoffs and they come in as the NFL Betting Lines favorite against the Falcons. Another reason the Rams went from worst to first is that they have what I believe is one of the greatest defensive coordinators in NFL history in Wade Phillips. Los Angeles finished 12th in points allowed (20.6 ppg) and seemingly got better on defense with each passing week as they learned Phillips’ system. “Sean, like any player, would say, came in, and he set the expectations and the bar for how this team should be producing,” Rams left guard Jamon Brown added. “It’s not a shocker that we stand first in the NFL in scoring.”

Latest NFL Betting Trends for Wild Card Round

  • Falcons are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games when playing LA Rams
  • Falcons are 6-2 SU in their last 8 games
  • The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Atlanta’s last 5 games
  • Rams are 4-10-1 ATS in their last 15 games at home
  • Rams are 8-3 SU in their last 11 games
  • The total has gone OVER in 5 of LA Rams’ last 5 games

Expert Analysis and Prediction

While I don’t see the Falcons going down easily at all in this wild card showdown, I’m going to urge you to roll with the 65 percent of public bettors that like the Los Angeles Rams to get the win and ATS cover. The Rams may be a modest 4-4 at home this season as compared to a stellar 7-1 on the road, but they’re also 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games while Atlanta is just 2-3 ATS over their last five, 5-8 ATS over their last 13 games and 1-5 ATS over their last six road games. Los Angeles gets just enough offense and keeps Atlanta off the scoreboard just enough to make a home win and super narrow ATS cover stand up in this one! Pick: Los Angeles Rams -6