Week 17 NFL Expert Picks: Arizona At Los Angeles

Posted by Henry Watkins on Friday,December 30, 2016 2:15, EDT in

NFL News, Betting Tips, Picks & Previews

Every NFL season delivers a few teams who end up being a major disappointment. This season has been no different, and it’s fair to say that the Arizona Cardinals and the LA Rams both fit nicely into that category. The Cardinals had a great season last year, and the feeling was that they could make a real run at the NFC and the Super Bowl this season, but they have just not been very good. The hype surrounding the Rams return to Los Angeles was huge, especially with Rookie of the Year Todd Gurley in tow, not to mention the number 1 draft pick Jared Goff ready to show what he is made of. Goff ended up out of favor, and didn’t get a start until late in the season, and Gurley has struggled to shoulder an offense that has routinely sputtered. It came as no real surprise to anyone that head coach Jeff Fisher was given his marching orders. These two will hook up on Sunday to close out their seasons, with the Cardinals in as a 6.5-point betting odds favorite.

A Closer Look At The Week 17 NFL Expert Picks: Cardinals At Rams

When: Sunday January 1 at 4:25 PM EST
Where: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, LA
TV: FOX
Radio: KTAR and KSPN
Live Stream: FOX Sports GO
NFL Odds: TBA

Why bet on the Arizona Cardinals

Regardless of what happens this Sunday, the Cardinals are going to finish the season with a losing record, and that is just not good enough for a team expected to be a contender. You hate to put all the blame on the QB, but Carson Palmer has looked his age at times this season, and it would not be a surprise to see a change coming at that position next season. The Arizona Cardinals did look good last week in an amazing come from behind win in Seattle, and they may feel a little bit better about things if they can close out the season with back to back wins. Not much to like here in regards betting, as the Cardinals are just 2-5 ATS on the road this year.

Why bet on the LA Rams

The Rams will be coming out on Sunday looking to do the season double over their division rivals. LA won the previous meeting 17-13 in a game that they entered as a 10-point underdog. Not much has gone right since then, though, as they are coming into this one on a 6-game losing skid, failing to cover in all 6 of those games. Overall, the Rams are 1-4 ATS in home games this season, and it certainly doesn’t help their cause that they have an offense that is dead last in scoring with an average of just over 14 PPG. I’m just not sure that they can compete with what Arizona brings to the table offensively.

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

Whatever happens this Sunday in Los Angeles, both of these teams are likely going to see some big changes coming in the offseason. That’s a conversation for another day, though, but as far as this day goes, this one should be all Cardinals.