Jared Goff and the rebuilding Los Angeles Rams will look to get the big win in NFL Week 1 when they host an Indianapolis Colts team that will be without franchise quarterback Andrew Luck. With Luck out for their regular season opener, the Colts will look to veteran backup Scott Tolzien while Los Angeles looks to get the Scott McVay-Jared Goff era started off on the right foot.
The playoff hopefuls will square off at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, September 10, 2017 at 4:05 PM ET while airing live on CBS. The NFL Lines are currently in favor of the Rams, which is strange but understandable.
To address their needs, the Rams signed veteran defensive end Connor Barwin, running back Lance Dunbar and wide receivers Sammy Watkins and Robert Woods while drafting tight end Gerald Everett in the second round and wide receiver Cooper Kupp in the third round. L.A. is hoping for some serious improvement from second-year quarterback Jared Goff after he struggled mightily last season.
Goff wasn’t named the starter until Week 11 a year ago, and he then went on to promptly lose all seven of his starts while finishing with a Total QBR of 22.2, the lowest among quarterbacks who played in at least five games. Goff however, believes he has improved in many ways since last season.
“I think just understanding the intent of stuff that we do and understanding what the defense is trying to do and what the intent of their calls are, and different ways to attack it,” Goff said recently. “With that, the game just begins to slow down a little bit. I think that’s what you ultimately feel. I felt it from Year 1 to Year 2. At every level you’re at, you get that slowdown effect a little bit from those two years. And I think it continues to slow down as time goes on.”
Indianapolis at LA Rams NFL Week 1 Odds, Preview & Betting Pick
When: Sunday, September 10, 2017 at 4:05 PM ET Where: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California TV: CBS Radio: 107.5 The Fan (Indianapolis) / 620 WTMJ (Green Bay) Live Stream: NFL Game Pass NFL Week 1 Odds: Los Angeles -3.5 / Total: 41.5 Weather Forecast- Clear: 28°C/82°F
- Humidity: 51%
- Precipitation: 0%
- Cloud Cover: 7%
- Wind: 9 mph WSW
- Stadium Type: Open
Why Bet the Indianapolis Colts Odds at +3.5?
Indianapolis went 2-2 in the preseason by beating Pittsburgh and Cincinnati in Weeks 3 and 4 after losing to Detroit and Dallas in their first two scrimmage games. Without Luck under center however, Indianapolis has gone from a 3-point road favorite to a 3.5-point road underdog. Indianapolis GM Chris Ballard says there is no timetable for Luck’s return. “Still no timetable,” Ballard said about Luck practicing. “He’s in the training phase right now. He’s done excellent in his rehab, and we’re still continuing to take it week to week.” Indianapolis went 8-8 last season and ranked a solid eighth in scoring (25.7 ppg) but discouraging 22nd in points allowed (24.5 ppg) to miss the playoffs for the second straight season. To address their needs, the Colts drafted safety Malik Hooker in the first round and cornerback Quincy Wilson in the second round while adding linebackers Jabaal Sheard and John Simon in free agency.Cowboys Are Favorites in NFL Odds Against Giants on Sunday Night
In six years in the NFL, veteran backup Scott Tolzien has gone 0-2-1 as a starter while tossing an uninspiring seven interceptions and just two touchdowns. However, the former University of Wisconsin signal-caller says the extra snaps he’s taken this offseason have given him an increased level of confidence. “He understands what the circumstances are, we all do,” Coach Chuck Pagano said. “All Scott needs to worry about is good communication, good identification, get us in the right play, accuracy, make great decisions, protect the ball in the pocket, keep two hands on it and you can’t worry about who’s trotting out there. He just needs to focus on playing fundamental football.”NFL Week 1 Betting Trends
- Colts are 2-4 ATS in the last 6 NFL games
- Total wente UNDER in 5 of the Colts’ last 7 games
- Indianapolis is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 NFL games on the road
- The Colts are 4-1 SU in the last 5 games on the road
- Total went OVER in 7 of the Colts’ last 8 NFL games on the road
Why Bet the Los Angeles Rams at -3.5?
Los Angeles went 2-2 in the scrimmage season by beating the Cowboys and Raiders in Weeks 1 and 2 before losing to the Chargers and Packers in Weeks 3 and 4. After going 4-12 in 2016 to finish dead last in scoring (14.0 ppg) and 23rd in points allowed (24.6 ppg) Los Angeles clearly has nowhere to go but up. To that end, the Rams hired the youngest in league history by naming 34-year-old Scott McVay their new leader moving forward.
To address their needs, the Rams signed veteran defensive end Connor Barwin, running back Lance Dunbar and wide receivers Sammy Watkins and Robert Woods while drafting tight end Gerald Everett in the second round and wide receiver Cooper Kupp in the third round. L.A. is hoping for some serious improvement from second-year quarterback Jared Goff after he struggled mightily last season.
Goff wasn’t named the starter until Week 11 a year ago, and he then went on to promptly lose all seven of his starts while finishing with a Total QBR of 22.2, the lowest among quarterbacks who played in at least five games. Goff however, believes he has improved in many ways since last season.
“I think just understanding the intent of stuff that we do and understanding what the defense is trying to do and what the intent of their calls are, and different ways to attack it,” Goff said recently. “With that, the game just begins to slow down a little bit. I think that’s what you ultimately feel. I felt it from Year 1 to Year 2. At every level you’re at, you get that slowdown effect a little bit from those two years. And I think it continues to slow down as time goes on.”
NFL Week 1 Betting Trends
- The Los Angeles Rams is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 NFL games
- Los Angeles Rams is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Los Angeles Rams’s last 6 NFL games
- Total has gone UNDER in 15 of Los Angeles Rams’s last 23 games
- The Los Angeles Rams is 0-4-1 ATS in its last 5 NFL games at home.
