The Arizona Cardinals are trying to start a new chapter on Monday Night Football when they face the Los Angeles Rams in the finale of NFL Super Wild Card Weekend 2022. The Cardinals (11-6) looked like one of the NFL's best teams after they started 7-0, but they come in having lost four of their last five games. They can turn it around in a hurry with a victory in the 2022 NFL playoffs against their NFC West rivals. The Rams (12-5) won five of their last six, but the teams split their meetings in the regular season, with the road team winning both times.
Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. ET at SoFi Stadium. The Rams are favored by three points in the latest Cardinals vs. Rams odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points scored is 49. Before you consider any Rams vs. Cardinals picks or 2022 NFL Playoff predictions, make sure you check out what SportsLine's resident Rams expert, R.J. White, has to say.
CBS Sports' Fantasy and gambling editor, White ended the 2020 season on an 80-59 run on all NFL picks, returning more than $1,400 during that span. It's no surprise, as White has cashed huge twice in the world's most prestigious football handicapping competition, the Las Vegas SuperContest.
In addition, White has gone a stunning 37-25-1 on his last 63 picks involving the Rams. Anyone who has followed him is way up.
Now, White has set his sights on Cardinals vs. Rams and just revealed his expert NFL playoff picks and Wild Card Weekend. predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see White's picks. Now, here are several NFL odds for Rams vs. Cardinals:
- Cardinals vs. Rams spread: Los Angeles -3
- Cardinals vs. Rams over-under: 49 points
- Cardinals vs. Rams money line: Los Angeles -180, Arizona +155
- ARI: Cardinals are 13-3-2 against the spread as road underdogs since 2019
- LAR: Rams are 11-9-1 ATS as home favorites the past three seasons
Why the Rams can cover
Los Angeles is 8-1-1 against the spread against Arizona since coach Sean McVay's first season in 2017. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Cooper Kupp put up sublime numbers, with Stafford second in the league in TD passes (41) and third in passing yards (4,886). Kupp caught 16 of those TDs and led the NFL in receiving yards (1,947). He had 118 in last week's loss to the 49ers and has had at least 90 in all but one game.
Cam Akers' return from a torn Achilles' also should be bad news for Arizona, which allows 115 rushing yards per game (20th in NFL). L.A.'s defense ranks third in the NFL in sacks with 50, and seven of those have come in the two meetings with the Cardinals. Aaron Donald (12.5 sacks), Leonard Floyd (9.5) and Von Miller (five) are among the rushers who will have Kyler Murray scrambling, and cornerback Jalen Ramsey has four interceptions.
Why the Cardinals can cover
Arizona will try to find the form it was in when it beat the Rams at SoFi in Week 4. The Cardinals rushed for a season-high 216 yards in that game, with Chase Edmonds going for 120. Edmonds and James Conner are both active for Monday Night Football despite suffering from rib injuries. Conner has been a scoring machine with 15 rushing TDs, while Edmonds averaged more than five yards per carry, and they teamed up for 80 receptions. The Rams are typically more vulnerable against the pass, ranking 22nd in the NFL, but quarterback Kyler Murray can beat teams both ways.
The Cardinals are 8-1 against the spread on the road this season, and Murray was being touted as an MVP candidate early in the season. He threw for 3,787 yards and rushed for 423 in 14 games and accounted for 29 TDs. He has 651 passing yards in the two meetings, with 383 in the Week 14 loss.
How to make NFL Playoffs or Cardinals vs. Rams picks
White has analyzed this matchup from all angles, and he is leaning Under on the point total. He also has discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread. He's only sharing what it is, and which side of the Cardinals vs. Rams spread to back at SportsLine.
So who wins Rams vs. Cardinals on NFL Wild Card Weekend 2022? And which critical X-factor makes one side of the spread a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see R.J. White's Rams vs. Cardinals picks and analysis, all from the NFL expert who's 37-25 on picks involving Los Angeles, and find out.
