Cardinals vs. Rams: NFL Week 6 Odds, Picks & Player Prop Bets
I’m Andrew Erickson, and I’m here to guide you through each game on the NFL slate, offering insights and recommendations on sides, totals, and player props that you can quickly turn into a big single-game parlay. Whether you’re a seasoned bettor or just dipping your toes into the world of NFL wagering - I know that I am for the first time now that my state has legalized wagering - this primer is designed to provide you with valuable perspectives and picks for the upcoming NFL week of action. Here are my top picks for Cardinals vs. Rams.
NFL Betting Primer: Cardinals vs. Rams
Los Angeles Rams (LAR -7) vs. Arizona Cardinals
The Rams play host to the Cardinals in Week 6, coming off a tough loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. The Rams offense fell flat in time of possession and couldn’t score in the second half after taking a 14-10 lead late in the second quarter. So poor defense at the end of the half led to an Eagles’ go-ahead TD as time expired in the first half, and the Eagles never looked back.
It was a rare performance by the Rams defense to not get off the field on third downs, as they entered Week 5 as an above-average unit. They were actually better defensively in the red zone holding Philly to 3 field goals on 5 red-zone trips.
LA’s been a team that has yet to really put together a complete full game. It’s been mostly strong halves of play – top-12 in points scored and allowed in the 1st half – followed by letdowns in the second half.
In fact, that has been the storyline with both these teams. Fast starters in the first half, but slow in the second half.
I don’t think the Cardinals will present much of a threat to stop the Rams’ high-octane offense that has yet to truly hit its ceiling. Arizona ranks 26th in yards per attempt, 30th in third down conversion rate allowed, and 31st in pressure rate generated.
The Rams offense should score points – especially early – with Cooper Kupp fully healthy at home. And I don’t think the Cardinals have the manpower to keep things close playing on the road. They should be 0-2 versus the spread on the road this season. And since the plucky Josh Dobbs started the year 3-0 versus the spread (zero expectations) they have dropped back-to-back games ATS, losing by an average of 16.5 points.
Considering the Cardinals’ bad defense has created shootout environments – last four games have hit the over – I like the over in the first half and in the game’s total. It’s in a dome, and Arizona plays fast from a tempo standpoint. They also rank top-10 in both third-down conversion rate and red-zone efficiency, so they can do enough to force the Rams to stay aggressive.
Their aggressive nature should create enough pass attempts to get Puka Nacua well over his 5.5 receptions prop.
When Cooper Kupp returned last week, the big question was what would happen toNacua’s targets? Nacua saw 11 targets catching 7-71 and 1 TD. 100% snap share. 32% Target share. Exactly the same as Weeks 1-4. Baller. Bet the over. Arizona ranks 5th in receptions and 3rd in completion rate allowed to WRs this season.
My Picks:
- Rams -7 (-105 DraftKings Sportsbook)
- Over 23.5 first half (-102 DraftKings Sportsbook)
- Over 48.5 (-110 DraftKings Sportsbook)
My Props:
- Puka Nacua over 5.5 receptions (+100 DraftKings Sportsbook)
What is Betting Against the Spread?
Betting "against the spread" refers to the act of choosing the winning team based on a numeric handicap placed on the team that oddsmakers believe is superior, rather than picking the outright winner. For example, if the Rams face the Bengals, and oddsmakers set the spread at Rams -3.5, you would need Los Angeles to win by 4 or more points in order to cash your Rams bet.
What is an Over/Under Bet?
Over/Under is a wager based on how many points you think will be scored in a specific game. Oddsmakers set the total, and bettors decide whether the final score will be higher or lower than that number. If an Over/Under is set at 44.5 points and you bet Over, you will need the combined score of both teams to be 45 points or higher to win your bet.
What is a Moneyline Bet?
A moneyline bet involves choosing which team you believe will win a specific matchup. The moneyline favorite carries a minus designation, like -130. This means that you need to wager $130 to earn a $100 profit. Conversely, the underdog carries a plus designation, like +110. This means that you win $110 in profit on a $100 bet.
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox | Pocket Casts