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Rams vs. Lions Week 1 Odds Prove Rams Are Legitimate NFC Contenders

The Rams are underdogs against the Lions in Week 1, but there's one big reason that fans in L.A. should be excited about what this betting line means anyway.

By Jason Schandl

Jan 14, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) and Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) greet each other after a 2024 NFC wild card game at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) and Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) greet each other after a 2024 NFC wild card game at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports / David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports
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After months of rumors and speculation, the arrival of Week 1 always brings NFL fans some relief. We finally get to see these teams on the field, where they can answer all kinds of questions. But before that happens for the first time for the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, their odds against the Detroit Lions paint a pretty terrific picture for fans in L.A.

Here's a look at the game's odds, and why they're so encouraging for Rams fans.

Rams vs Lions Odds Week 1

  • Point spread: LAR +3.5 (-115) | DET -3.5 (-105)
  • Moneyline: LAR (+152) | Det (-180)
  • Over/Under: 51.5 — Over (-105) | Under (-115)

If you're not super familiar with reading NFL odds, what this says is that Detroit is projected to win by about 3 points in a high-scoring game. Now, why is that such an amazing thing for Rams fans?

Well, Detroit is at home in this one, and home-field advantage in the NFL is generally considered to be worth about 2 or 3 points on a spread. You probably don't need to be a math whiz to see what that adjustment seems to be saying about this matchup.

We can't know for sure, of course, but that rule of thumb means that this game may well be considered as something of a coin-flip at a neutral site, and that the Rams may even have been favored if this game was being played at SoFi Stadium.

The Lions are considered one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl, with +1200 odds ranking No. 4 in the NFL (and trailing only the San Francisco 49ers among NFC teams). So if the Rams are being given this kind of love against the Lions, that's a very good sign for their chances of being an NFC contender in their own right.

It also makes their season-long betting odds look mighty appealing. The Rams rank just No. 14 in the NFL with +3000 odds to win the Super Bowl, and they're No. 7 in the NFC at +1500 to win the conference championship. That would be a payout three times higher than you'd get for the Lions at +500 if they won.

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Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

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