Los Angeles Rams vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Predictions, Picks, Odds

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The Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs will resume Sunday afternoon with a blockbuster NFC clash between the Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Coverage begins from Raymond James Stadium at 3:00 p.m. ET on NBC.

SCORE PREDICTION

Rams 30, Buccaneers 24

BEST BETS

Rams ML (+130) at BetMGM

LOS ANGELES RAMS VS. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS PREDICTIONS

After finishing second in the NFC South with a record of 11-5 SU and then going on to win last year’s Super Bowl, Tampa Bay kept that same ball rolling with an excellent start to this season, as the Buccaneers opened with 6-1 SU run – while racking up 33.2 PPG on 423 YPG offensively across that span.

The Buccaneers appeared somewhat vulnerable during the back-half of the year though, as Tampa closed out the regular season with a 7-3 SU and 6-4 ATS stretch – which came as a slight disappointment, considering the Bucs’ were favored by 10+ PTS in seven of those matchups.

On the other hand, Los Angeles was up-and-down throughout the first half of Matthew Stafford’s opening campaign with the team, as the Rams opened with a lackluster 7-4 SU run – highlighted by L. A.’s offense generating 20 PTS or less in three of those SU losses.

The Rams have cranked up the heat on both sides of the ball since early December though, considering L. A. enters the Divisional Round riding a triumphant 6-1 SU and 5-2 ATS run – while tallying 27.9 PPG offensively and surrendering just 17.1 PPG defensively across their latest seven-game window.

I’ll back L. A. here, as the Rams’ defense finally got healthy and played like a cohesive unit down the homestretch, considering the Rams have allowed just 17.1 PPG across their last seven games – and while the void left by Chris Godwin, Leonard Fournette, and Antonio Brown wasn’t felt in last week’s matchup against the Eagles, the Bucs’ lack in offensive weaponry should ultimately catch up with them in the Divisional Round.

LOS ANGELES RAMS VS. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS BETTING ODDS

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The Buccaneers enter the Divisional Round as three-point home favorites over the visiting Rams – marking just the third time L. A. has been an underdog all season.

The total for Sunday’s affair is stationed around OU 48.5 at most shops, which marks the highest over-under set for a Bucs’ game since Week 14 (U 53).

LOS ANGELES RAMS VS. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS BETTING RESOURCES

Matchup: NFC West vs. NFC South
Date: Sunday, January 23, 2022
Venue: Raymond James Stadium
Location: Tampa, Florida
TV-Time: NBC - 3:00 p.m. ET

LOS ANGELES RAMS BETTING ANALYSIS

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

SU: 13-5
ATS: 9-9
O/U: 9-8-1
ATS - Away: 4-5

After acquiring Stafford from Detroit last offseason, L. A.’s offense played phenomenal to start the year, as the Rams racked up – PPG on – YPG across Weeks 1 through 12 – yet their defense somewhat let them down, highlighted by Aaron Donald and company surrendering roughly 24 PPG on 352 YPG across that same timeframe.

The Rams’ defense stepped up enormously down the homestretch though, considering L. A. has surrendered 19 PTS or less in four of their last seven games (17.1 PPG, 311 YPG) – which includes a stifling performance against Arizona on Wild Card Weekend (W, 34-11).

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS BETTING ANALYSIS

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

SU: 14-4
ATS: 10-8
O/U: 9-9
ATS - Home: 7-2

Tom Brady and the defending champs have played solid football all season, as Tampa settled for the second seed in the NFC with a record of 13-4 SU, while ranking second in the league in both scoring and total offense (30.1 PPG, 405.9 YPG) – yet their flaws still get exploited occasionally, considering all four of the Bucs’ losses came by nine points or more.

The Bucs’ offense was stellar during their 31-15 victory over Philadelphia on Wild Card Weekend, but Sunday’s matchup could be a totally different story with Tampa going up against a stout Rams’ defensive front with so many pass-catchers and o-lineman banged up.

**The Rams are 7-2 SU in their last nine road games. (AP)**

INSIDE THE STATS - LOS ANGELES RAMS

Record: 12-5
Division Standing: 1st - NFC West
Points Scored: 460
Points Allowed: 372
PS/G: 27.1 (7th)
PA/G: 21.9 (15th)

INSIDE THE STATS - TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Record: 13-4
Division Standing: 1st - NFC South
Points Scored: 511
Points Allowed: 353
PS/G: 30.1 (2nd)
PA/G: 20.8 (5th)

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

LAR: Matthew Stafford - QB (67.2% CMP, 287 YPG, 41 TD, 17 INT)
LAR: Cooper Kupp - WR (145 REC, 1,947 YDS, 16 TD)
TMB: Tom Brady - QB (67.5% CMP, 313 YPG, 43 TD, 6 INT)
TMB: Mike Evans - WR (74 REC, 1,035 YDS, 14 TD)

LOS ANGELES RAMS VS. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS BETTING CONCLUSION

After stomping Arizona last week (W, 34-11), the Rams enter the Divisional Round as three-point road underdogs against the Bucs’ at Raymond James Stadium – marking just the third time L. A. has been an underdog all season.

I’ll take the points with L. A. here, as the Bucs’ latest five-game stretch consists of relatively easy wins over the Panthers (2), Jets, and Eagles; and a loss to the Saints – but Tampa’s recent injury concerns should ultimately catch up with them against the Rams’ elite defensive front this Sunday.

LOS ANGELES RAMS VS. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS BETTING TRENDS

The Rams are 8-1 ATS in their last nine matchups against Tampa Bay.
The total has gone OVER in five straight matchups between the Bucs' and Rams.
The Buccaneers are 11-1 SU in their last 12 home games.
The Rams are 7-2 SU in their last nine road games.

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Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson began his time at VegasInsider as a freelance NBA writer back in 2019 while he continued to study Psychology and Biology at James Madison University. Following his graduation in 2021, Michael joined the team full-time, and he's been with VI ever since. Michael still writes NBA, NFL, and MLB for VI, as well as gambling industry news. He's also become a crucial part of our editorial production team. More from Michael Crosson