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2018 Los Angeles Rams Road Schedule Odds with Expert Picks and Predictions


by - 6/7/2018

Jared Goff Los Angeles Rams

Excluding the New England Patriots, who have been good every year since Tom Brady took over as the starter, there's always one "it" team entering an NFL season that bettors hammer on Super Bowl futures. Entering 2017, it was probably the Oakland Raiders, but they flopped to a 6-10 record and fired their head coach.

No question the "it" team entering 2018 is the Los Angeles Rams. They were 4-12 in 2016, which led to the firing of the most overrated coach in NFL history, Jeff Fisher. The Rams took a chance on 30-year-old Redskins offensive coordinator Sean McVay as their new head coach, with many around the NFL giggling at the move.

It proved to be a genius move as McVay's brilliant mind led arguably the greatest offensive turnaround in NFL history as L.A. went from last to first in scoring. Jared Goff went from potential No. 1 overall pick bust as a rookie to Pro Bowler as a sophomore. Running back Todd Gurley, criminally underused in the passing game under Fisher, won all of his fantasy football owners a ton of money late in the season and was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year.

The defense wasn't too bad, either, under veteran DC Wade Phillips, with Aaron Donald winning Defensive Player of the Year honors. You aren't supposed to dominate at defensive tackle in the modern-day NFL, but Donald was clearly the best overall defender in the league in 2017 - Pro Football Focus gave Donald a 99.7 grade, the best grade for any player in the entire NFL. Donald's contract is up after this year, and he's going to get PAID!

L.A., the NFC West champion, was a home favorite in the Wild-Card Game against the Falcons, but the Rams' inexperience perhaps showed in the 26-13 loss. That's a part of the NFL, though: Teams generally have to get a taste of the playoffs before truly contending for a Super Bowl. With some big-name offseason additions (which we'll address later this summer), the Rams are clearly in all-in mode as they try to build a bigger fan base ahead of their move to their $5 billion palace in 2020 with the crosstown Chargers.

The Rams were 7-1 on the road last season (tied best in NFL), 5-3 against the spread and 7-1 "over/under." They travel to just one playoff team in 2018, which is nearly impossible (I double-checked; not sure I've seen just one before): New Orleans. Needless to say, the home schedule is way, way tougher. I project the Rams to go 6-2 away. Odds listed for the home team.

Sept. 10 at Raiders (+3, 49): This is the second game of the opening night Monday doubleheader and a spectacular matchup with Jon Gruden's return to coaching. Of course, if the Rams never got approval to move from St. Louis to L.A., the Raiders are probably there right now and there's no NFL heading to Las Vegas. Let's see if the Rams can avoid Oakland's drop-off from last year. Gruden, incidentally, was McVay's mentor. Key trend: Rams have covered just one of past 10 as September road favorites of at least 3 points.

Oct. 7 at Seahawks (+1): Rams on extra rest coming off a Thursday Week 4 home game against the Vikings. One of L.A.'s most impressive wins last year came when it coming off a big home loss to Philadelphia and went to Seattle in Week 15. The Rams rolled 42-7 to all but clinch the NFC West. Gurley rushed for 152 yards and scored four total touchdowns (knocked me out of my fantasy playoffs) in just 2 1/2 quarters. Key trend: Rams are 0-2 ATS as road favorite in series (last 2011).

Oct. 14 at Broncos (+2.5): The Rams get a look at former quarterback Case Keenum, and it's a homecoming for Phillips, the former DC of the Broncos, and newly-acquired L.A. cornerback Aqib Talib. The Rams lead the all-time series 8-5 and visit Denver for the first time in eight years. It could still be nice weather-wise in the Mile High City this time of year. Key trend: Rams 4-6 ATS in past 10 at AFC West foes.

Oct. 21 at 49ers (+1): Sunday night. That notation about one trip to a playoff team is somewhat misleading because the Seahawks and Broncos usually are one and the 49ers are clearly on the rise and could be one in 2018. Rams-49ers could become the NFC's best rivalry for a while starting this year. No NFL team wants three straight road games, but at least L.A. doesn't have to go further East than Denver. The Rams won in San Francisco 41-39 in Week 3 last year pre-Jimmy Garoppolo. Key trend: Rams 3-7 ATS in past 10 as road favorite in series.

Nov. 4 at Saints (-2): L.A. beat the visiting Saints 26-20 in Week 12 last year behind 354 yards passing and two scores from Goff. He made his first-ever NFL road start in New Orleans in Week 12 the year before and played solidly but the Rams lost 49-21. Key trend: Rams 6-4 ATS in past 10 at Saints.

Dec. 2 at Lions (+2): L.A. comes off its way-too-late bye week. The Rams will be looking for their first win at Ford Field since 2009. They lost there in Week 6 of the 2016 season, 31-28. Keenum was still the starting QB then. Key trend: Rams 7-2-1 ATS in past 10 after bye (any location).

Dec. 9 at Bears (+2.5): This will be the Rams' only guaranteed (well, likely) cold-weather outdoor game and it's one of those tough 1 p.m. ET starts as is the Lions game. Might the Rams just stay somewhere in the Midwest between the two? I'd guess so. The Bears have overhauled their coaching staff to mimic the Rams. It's the first meeting between the teams in three years. Key trend: Rams 3-7 ATS in past 10 at NFC North foes.

Dec. 23 at Cardinals (+3.5): The Rams have won their past three in the desert. It was 32-16 in Week 13 last year to win the season series with the Cardinals for only the second time in the last 14 years and first since 2012. Goff threw for two scores and L.A. had a defensive touchdown. Key trend: Rams 4-2 ATS as favorite at Cardinals.


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