kupp and obj

Las Vegas - Closing out the Wild Card round tonight in Los Angeles with the Rams against the Cardinals. These two NFC West rivals met twice during the regular season and here are the particulars. Arizona flew into L.A. back in October, and posted a rather easy 37-20 win as a +4 point underdog. The total on the game was 54 and the calculator tells me it went Over. In the second game down in Arizona, the Rams got their revenge, picking up a 30-23 victory as a +3 point underdog. The total on the game was 51 and the calculator tells me it went Over again.

Here are your spread stats. The Rams posted a straight up 12-5 record, with an 8-9 effort against the spread. They were 4-4 against the spread at home and 6-9 as a favorite. In L.A., they were dead even to the total, picking up four Overs and four Unders.

The Cards posted a straight up 11-6 record, with a 10-7 mark against the spread. They were phenomenal on the road against the spread with a gorgeous 8-1 log, and even better, threw a 6-0 PERFECTO on the board as an underdog. Packing a bag and looking at their totals, they picked up four Overs and five Unders away from home.

Despite looking at the EXCEPTIONAL numbers on the road as an underdog, we have some issues. And it's the health of Arizona QB Kyler Murray. Love the kid, and he is a ferocious talent, but ever since he got hurt, he just HAS NOT been the same. In the first matchup, the easy win, Murray was spot on, completing 24 of 32 for 268 yards, two TDs and no INTs. In the second game, he was just 32 of 49 for 383 yards with ZERO TDs and TWO INTs. Matthew Stafford had issues in the early season loss at home, but was wicked good in the rematch. Why? In the first game, Cooper Kupp was just okay, with 5 grabs for 64 yards. In the rematch, Kupp was off the chain, with 13 catches for 123 yards. Why? They had another guy on the field who did NOT play in the first game. You remember Odell Beckham Jr. right? OBJ had 6 grabs for 77 yards and with Stafford slinging, NOBODY is gonna be able to cover both of these guys.

The Cards lost four of their last five and on the other side of the field, the Rams rumble into the playoffs with five wins in the last six games. And if you were wondering about L.A.'s 27-24 loss in the final regular season game against the 49ers, the Rams were up 17-3 at the half, and just took their foot off the gas.

Lets close out the weekend with a W out in La La Land, grab the Rams, buy the hook down to -3 if you can, and rock the bank!

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