NFL Odds Wild Card Weekend: Rams vs Lions Lines, Spreads, Betting Trends

Patrick Everson Sports Betting Expert

4 minute read

NFL Wild Card Weekend continues with a highly anticipated NFC showdown between the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions. The betting odds see LA as a 3.5-point road underdog as both QBs try to claim revenge against their former team. Coverage begins from Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, January 14 at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.

Here's everything you need to know about the NFL odds for Wild Card Weekend: Rams vs Lions lines, spreads, betting trends and more.

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Los Angeles Rams vs Detroit Lions Odds

• Opening point spread: Lions -3 (-120)
• Opening moneyline: Lions -170/Rams +150
• Opening total: Over/Under 51.5 points scored
• Time: 8 p.m. ET Sunday (NBC)

UPDATE 7:45 P.M. ET SUNDAY: As kickoff approaches, the Lions are -3 (-115) in BetMGM's NFL odds Wild Card Weekend market. Detroit opened -3.5 last Sunday night and quickly dipped to -3 (-120). The number then toggled between Lions -3/-3.5 at various juice throughout the week. It was at Detroit -3.5 (-105) this morning.

The Lions are landing netting 60% of spread bets/66% of spread money. On the moneyline, it's two-way play with a lean toward the Rams, but the book will need the road 'dog tonight.

"We're going to need the Rams and the Under here. Money is coming in for the Lions, mostly public. And it'll be a lot of Lions action heading to kickoff," BetMGM trader Christian Cipollini said.

The total opened at 51.5, stuck there much of the week, then went to 52/52.5 this morning. It's now at its peak of 53, with tickets and money in the 2/1 range on the Over.

UPDATE 12:30 P.M. ET THURSDAY: TwinSpires pegged Detroit a 3-point favorite to open, moved to -3.5 and is now back at -3. The Lions are landing 60% of spread tickets/63% of spread money so far.

"Great storyline around this game," Lucas said, alluding to the two starting QBs – Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff – squaring off against their former teams. "Surprisingly, this game has seen the most handle. The Lions are a popular side, especially on the moneyline.

"The public expects the Lions to get their first playoff win since 1992."

On that moneyline, tickets are running 5/1 and money 8/1 on Detroit.

The total is up a tick from 51 to 51.5 at TwinSpires, with 57% of tickets/62% of money on the Over.

UPDATE MIDNIGHT ET SUNDAY: Detroit (12-5 SU and ATS) topped Minnesota 30-20 as 2.5-point home chalk. The Lions finished the season on a 3-1 SU/4-0 ATS upswing. But in the finale, tight end Sam LaPorta suffered a knee injury, so he could be out against the Rams.

Los Angeles (10-7 SU/10-6-1 ATS) is among the hottest teams entering the playoffs. In Week 18, with L.A. and San Francisco resting some starters, the Rams squeaked out a 21-20 win as 5.5-point road underdogs.

L.A. has won four in a row SU and is 7-1 SU/6-2 ATS in its last eight games. The SuperBook opened the Lions -3 (-120) in its NFL odds Wild Card Weekend market, with no movement tonight.

"I think 3.5 would be inviting the wiseguys on the 'dog," Michaelson said of a decision to open the Lions shy of -3.5. "It's hard to say how the public is gonna bet this. I think the public has embraced Detroit this year, but also been let down by Detroit a couple crucial times.

"I think we'll need the Rams. It's a night game. Anytime there are three games, and first two teams are pretty sizable favorites, it's pretty easy to put your moneyline parlay together – Buffalo/Dallas/Detroit=profit."

Click here for Vegas Insider senior reporter Patrick Everson's full NFL Odds Wild Card Weekend Report containing spreads, lines, and trends for every NFL matchup.

Rams vs Lions Pick, Prediction

Action Network NFL betting expert Brandon Anderson offers this prediction:

The Lions offense has been terrific but could be low on options. I don't expect LaPorta or Raymond to play much of a role, if any, and Detroit's rushing attack could be limited by a solid Rams run defense. But there's not really much way to take Amon-Ra St. Brown out of the game flow, and nobody knows that as well as the Rams, since St. Brown is effectively built to play the role that Cooper Kupp has mastered.

St. Brown always seems to be open. He scored a touchdown in seven of his last nine games, and he finished the season with 119 receptions and 1,515 yards. Most of those catches were short, in the flow of things for Goff, and he's the security blanket in this offense. St. Brown has gone over this number in four straight games and 11 of 16 on the season (69%), averaging 94.7 YPG. That's about where I'd make this line, and this play feels somewhat matchup proof since the Lions will either lead by passing or throw from behind.

Pick: Amon-Ra St. Brown Over 85.5 Receiving Yards

For more NFL picks, check out Action Network's NFL Wild Card Weekend: How to Bet Every Game & Every Team.

The One Stat to Know About Rams vs Lions

Action Network NFL researcher Evan Abrams offers his top betting stat:

Since Week 11, the Rams are 7-1 SU, 6-2 ATS – their only SU loss is a 6-point loss to the Ravens.

For more NFL betting stats, check out Action Network's NFL Wild Card Weekend Betting Trends, Stats, Notes.

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Patrick Everson

Patrick Everson is a senior reporter for VegasInsider. Based in Las Vegas since 1994, he's worked in the sports betting journalism/content space for more than a decade. He's most known for his deep roster of contacts behind sportsbook counters, providing readers and viewers with the ins-and-outs of how events are being bet. He's also a thought leader in the sports betting space, often appearing on or moderating panels at national conferences. More from Patrick Everson